Philippines, 26 May 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Fil-Brit out for boxing gold


PhilBoxing.com



John Marvin.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson said yesterday Fil-Brit boxer John Marvin, a late discovery from out of the blue, might just pull a surprise to win the gold medal in the lightheavyweight division at the coming SEA Games in Malaysia.

Picson said he received a blind e-mail from Marvin last May inquiring about fighting for the Philippines. ?It came out of nowhere,? said Picson. ?John wanted to fly over since he has a Philippine passport. He sent us videos of his fights. We had nothing to lose. I told him to pay his way to Manila and if he makes the team, we?ll reimburse his expenses. But John couldn?t raise the money so (ABAP president) Mr. (Ricky) Vargas decided to advance it.?

Picson said ABAP?s gamble paid off. ?John?s easy to get along with,? he said. ?He likes Filipino food, he doesn?t mind bunking with four or five guys in a room, he just wants an opportunity to box for the country. We considered one of our veterans Willie Lopez for the lightheavyweight slot but when they sparred, John got the better of him. He held his own and took Willie?s best shots. The coaching staff decided to go with John. He went with the team for training in China and he?s now getting a monthly allowance of P11,000 from the PSC as a member of the national pool.?

Marvin, 24, is a British lance corporal with the 1st battalion of the Princess of Wales regiment based in Germany. His father John, Sr. is a retired professional singer, former cruise director and now a yacht master. His Filipina mother is Teresita Tupas from Pampanga. His younger brother Jonathan, 22, is with the merchant navy. As a boy, Marvin used to make regular visits to the Philippines with his family. But before this trip, he hadn?t been back in 11 years. Marvin said he expects his parents to be at ringside in K.L.

Marvin learned how to box when he was seven and joined the Ventnor Club under coach Darren Green at the Isle of Wight. When he joined the Army, Marvin signed up for the boxing team and it led to winning the middleweight and cruiserweight titles in combined military services tournaments. He?s been with the British Army boxing team for five years.

?Last year, I was invited to participate in a Filipino-British boxing competition in England but I couldn?t join,? he said. ?That opened my eyes to the possibility of fighting for the Philippines. So I sent an e-mail to ABAP asking how to go about it. Now that I?m with the national team, my goal is to make the best of this chance. I don?t know what the future will bring. Life is full of surprises. But I?m definitely going for gold in the SEA Games. I?m aspiring to fight at the Asian Games and the Olympics.?

Marvin said the fighter he most admires is Muhammad Ali. ?I?m inspired by him, he?s my motivation to fight,? he said. ?Do I try to fight like Ali? No. I don?t try to fight like anyone. I?ve developed my own style. I?d rather not describe how I fight. I don?t want to give bullets to the enemy. Let?s just wait for the bell to ring at the SEA Games.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Minnesota Timberwolves Rout OKC, 143-101, Get Back in the West Finals Series, 1-2
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 25 May 2025
  • CM Romy Fagon Champ in IIEE Baguio Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 25 May 2025
  • Going Back to Indiana, Get Ready With the Brooms? Minnesota Hopes to Bounce Back at Home Vs OKC
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 25 May 2025
  • PEDRO TADURAN RETAINS IBF TITLE WITH SPLIT DECISION VICTORY OVER GINJIRO SHIGEOKA IN OSAKA (PHOTOS)
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 24 May 2025
  • It's Both 2-0 in the NBA East and West Finals - Can Indiana and Oklahoma Still be Stopped?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 24 May 2025
  • Usmonov Stops Pagara in 3 in Title Fight in Tajikistan
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 24 May 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES TWO HIGH-STAKES SUPPORTING BOUTS FOR CLARESSA SHIELDS’ UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
    , Sat, 24 May 2025
  • Taylor vs. Essuman & Leo vs. Kameda Preview and Picks
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 23 May 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM JAPAN: TADURAN - 104.5 LBS., SHIGEOKA - 104.9 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 23 May 2025
  • Suelo rules Thailand Open Rapid Chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 23 May 2025
  • Magsayo fights on Manny undercard
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 May 2025
  • Jessie Villasin chess tournament on June 8
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 23 May 2025
  • Olympic medalists Elor, Dake among 16 World Team Trials champions qualified for 2025 Final X in Newark, N.J.
    , Fri, 23 May 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 3 - FRAZIER WINS FIGHT OF THE CENTURY BY UNANIMOUS DECISION
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • Indiana Keeps Coming and Snatches Game One, Shocks New York in OT, 138-135 at MSG
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • The Pacquiao Quarters for the Barrios Fight – A Brilliant Choice!
    By Ed de la Vega, DDS, , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • Filipinos Run 130,000 Kilometers in FundLife’s ‘Move for Equity’ Campaign for Gender Equality and Girls’ Safety
    , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • DAVID STEVENS TO FACE PETR KHAMUKOV IN SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT MAIN EVENT ON FRIDAY, JUNE 20, LIVE ON DAZN FROM THUNDER STUDIOS
    , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • ARMANDO RESENDIZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
    , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION NINO BENVENUTI
    , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Daniel Miranda Ready to Take on 2025 Irohazaka Car Meet Drift Series
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • Top Rank Signs Dominican Olympian Euri “La Bazooka” Cedeño to Co-Promotional Pact with King’s Promotions
    , Thu, 22 May 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao Confirms Return to Ring Against Mario Barrios on July 19
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 2 - FIRST ALI-FRAZIER FIGHT, THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 May 2025
  • CLARESSA SHIELDS’ MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Wed, 21 May 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.