(OCTOBER 20) Mdantsane, South
Africa’s Unathi Myekeni has been forced to withdraw from the
World Bantamweight WBU, WBF, WIBA and WIBC World Championship
Unification contest, against London, England’s Marianne Marston,
which was due to take place at York Hall in London, on Sunday
6th December.
World Boxing Federation President Howard Goldberg broke the
news, to Marston’s team earlier today, that Myekeni suffered a
serious hand injury in training that would prevent her competing
on December 6th.
[WBAN's notes: Jessica
Arreguin Munoz: Rated #31 as a "super Bantamweight"
in Boxrec. Bantamweight top-ten ratings on Boxrec, are the
following: #1: Naoko Fujioka, #2: Carolina
Rodriguez, #3: Yazmin Rivas, #4: Mayerlin Rivas, #5:
Irma Garcia, #6: Janeth Perez, #7: Aniya Seki, #8:
Jessica Gonzalez, #9: Tenkai Tsunami; 10#: Celina
Salazar, and more down to #31]
Mr. Goldberg also proposed a
possible replacement, reigning FECOMBOX Mexican National
Champion Jessica Arreguin Munoz, from Agua Prieta, Mexico, whose
record stands at nine wins and just the single loss.
Shortly after hearing the news Marston spoke briefly on the
situation and the possibility of boxing Munoz.
“My first thoughts were, oh no here we go again. I can’t
believe it I think I’ve only ever had one fight when I fought
the girl we had originally planned, my last fight has to be the
worse though, nine pullouts before finally fighting Jekaterina
Lecko on the night.
I feel sorry for Unathi, but can’t deny I am also very
disappointed as now we have to have a new opponent.
We had everything sorted for the camp based on Unathi and her
fight style, but now we may need to rethink the sparring
partners, especially if it is Jessica Munoz I’ll be fighting as
she’s a southpaw like myself.
I already know about Jessica, I’d seen her title fight against
Lesly Morales, she’s a typical Mexican fighter, as tough as they
come and likes to stand right there in front of you and have a
proper slugfest.
Have to say if it is Jessica the British fans will be on the
feet from start to finish as it will be an all out and very
bloody war and that suits me just fine, as when I was being
trained by Joe (late, great Heavyweight World Champion Smokin’
Joe Frazier) and Marvis (Marvis Frazier) in Philly, that’s the
way they taught me to fight.
My style may have changed considerably since I’ve been back in
England, but believe me I am still more than happy and more
importantly more than capable to have a good old fashioned
toe-to-toe slugfest when needs be, believe me I don’t care I’ll
do whatever I need to do to win those titles.
Now we have to see if Ryan (WIBA President Ryan Wissow) and Don
(WBU & WIBC President Don Lewis) will accept Jessica as the
replacement for Unathi, otherwise it’s back to the drawing
board.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to my sponsors, Monarch
Communications, Optimax, Boxfit UK and 3X Sports for being so
understanding of the situation as well as their continuing to be
so supportive of me and this World significant event.”
Marianne Marston, against a yet to be named opponent for the
unified WBU, WBFed, WIBA and WIBC World Bantamweight
Championships co-headline the Mark Lyons and Marianne Marston
co-promoted LET BATTLE COMMENCE event at York Hall, Bethnal
Green, London on Sunday 6th December 2015.
WBAN's Suggestion to the Federations
