(AUG 20) Woolwich, London based Super Bantamweight Marianne Marston has enlisted former British and European Bantamweight Champion Ian Dappa Napa as her main sparring partner, as she prepares for her upcoming bout on the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted mega fourteen bout show NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday 4th October.

Marianne, who back in April sensationally stopped Hungarian #1 ranked Gabriella Roman in just one minute and forty seven seconds of the first round, is being fast tracked for a WBF International title fight by her promoter Dave Murphy and World Boxing Federation President Howard Goldberg - which if everything goes according to plan will take place in London on November 30th this year.

But before then she will have to deal with Masa Bacanov, who she faces on the Demis Tonna Prize Boxing Promotions Rumble in the Med Part IV Judgement Day event at the Dolmen Hotel and Spa Resort in Bugibba, Malta on August 30th and against a yet to be named opponent, who she will be fighting on the mega NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS event at York Hall on October 4th.

Its with these key fights in mind that lead Marianne to suggest to her promoter, the aforementioned Dave Murphy, approaching her long time gym mate Ian Napa to be her regular sparring partner.

The choice of Dappa as a sparring partner is clearly an inspired move, during his thirteen year career Ian won seven Championship bouts, acquiring and defending the Southern Area (Flyweight) and both the British and European Bantamweight titles, as well as challenging for a World crown at Flyweight.

Not just that though, during his exceptional career Ian has fought a whos who of Champions, including: Jason Booth, Oleg Kiryukhin and Peter Culshaw at Flyweight and Jason Booth again, Martin Power, Simone Maludrottu, Lee Haskins, Carmello Ballone, Malik Bouziane, Gary Davies, Jamie McDonnell and Stuart Hall at Bantamweight.
Speaking after their second sparring session, at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, a clearly pleased Marianne spoke about the new acquisition to her team.

Its awesome, just awesome to spar with such a talented boxer like Ian.

I cant deny that I have been a big fan of Ian for years, even when I was living and training in Philadelphia I would never miss any of his fights.

When I came back to London I was lucky enough to train at the same gym as him, Ben Murphy and Erick The Eagle Ochieng, then shortly after I moved to the TRAD TKO their coach Bryan Lawrence also moved his team here, so we've sort of trained side by side for the past three years or so.

Ians seriously technical and has an almost impenetrable defense, he really is the perfect sparring partner for me to learn from.

Lets face it if I can survive his constant pressure and wicked shots, as well as actually get through that defense then I'm doing pretty well.

I can't think of any better sparring I could possibly get, dont get me wrong I appreciate all and any sparring I get, just the sparring I get from Ian is of such high quality that I will benefit from it even more.

I seriously doubt that there will be any opponent that will test me anywhere close to the way he does.

I've another couple of sessions to go with Ian before I go to Malta to fight Masa (Bacanov) and then when I get back hopefully well get straight back into sparring, so I can be a hundred percent ready for October 4th.

Dont get me wrong, Im not looking past Masa, anything but - she's one tough cookie that not only boxes but is also a competitive kickboxer - but I already know that I will be handed a seriously tough test on October 4th and really thats the fight I have got Ian in to make sure I am a hundred percent ready for.

Fighting at the York Hall on such a massive bill, I mean theres two World title fights headlining a massive fourteen fight card, it will be such a thrill and I want to give the very best account of myself I can, I dont want to just win, I want to win in style.

I'm hoping that I can get some rounds in this time, getting first round stoppage wins is great for my record, but I want to showcase my boxing skills and to do that I really do need to get some rounds under my belt, plus itll be nice to give my sponsors, Optimax, Winkball, BoxFit and TRAD TKO more than just two minutes ring exposure.

Saying that Ill do what I have to do, if that means another early stoppage finish, so it goes. Im extremely competitive by nature and want my fight to be the one the fans go home talking about.

Marianne Marston, against a yet to be named opponent, will feature on the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS event, headlined by Michel Trabant vs TBA and Jennifer Retzke versus Angel McKenzie World title clashes, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday, 4th October 2013.