Marston & McKenzie ‘Tear Up’ In Carnaby Street – To Promote Women’s Boxing at 2012 Olympics

Posted on | November 4, 2010 | No Comments

Women fighting in the heart of London would normally be cause for concern but today (thurs) two professional women boxers battled it out on Carnaby Street, Soho, to raise awareness of the new Olympic sport.

Women’s boxing will have a place in the Olympics for the first time when London hosts the games in 2012. Both Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston and sparring partner Angel McKenzie believe it’s an exciting time for women’s boxing.

The two boxers were joined by dozens of citizen reporters from Winkball.com, there to video people’s opinions about a sport which still holds a certain taboo with the British Public.

As well as taking its place in the Olympics, woman’s amateur boxing will be aired for the first time in the UK next weekend live from the GB Amateur Championships in Liverpool.

Speaking to reporters from Winkball.com, the UK’s number one video messaging website, Marianne said: ‘It’s a great time for women’s boxing and about time women boxers got the recognition they deserve.

“For the whole of human evolution people have been saying that women shouldn’t fight or shouldn’t box. But we’re athletes and entertainers, and a lot of women have worked hard for this recognition.”

Marianne, 36, from Bermondsey, is one of the UK’s few female professional boxers. Her next bout is against Lana Cooper on Saturday December 4th at York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Asked if she worries about being hurt in the ring, she said, “In the ring I don’t really feel any pain. The pain comes in the training sessions. But maybe you should ask my sparring partner.”

Marianne’s sparring partner is Angel McKenzie, 31, from Herne Hill. Angel is perhaps best known as a former 2009 Big Brother contestant.

Speaking to WinkBall.com she echoed Marianne’s comments.

“I started to box for fun about 10 years ago and it helped me give up drugs. Women’s boxing is different from men’s. We can’t hit as hard and there are less knockouts. We box more like cats – we’re more graceful.”

Asked if she thought it was time for women’s boxing to take its place in the Olympics, she said: “Come on, it’s the 21st century. Women should be able to show what they can do because boxing is an art. We entertain.

Sure it can be scary getting in the ring. You feel it in your guts, but we’re there to entertain and the Olympics will greatly help the sport. People like something new.”

But Marianne also worries about her teeth. “Luckily my dentist is my best friend”, she said.

– Ends –

Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston

Privately educated far away from the world of boxing, Marianne only found the sport after becoming seriously ill a couple of years ago and using boxing training to get fit again. She was discovered by Smokin’ Joe Frazier who thought Marianne was so naturally talented he offered to train her. Her professional debut will be against Lana Cooper at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Saturday 4th December.

Angel Mackenzie

Despite doctors saying she would never walk again in 1998 after a BMX accident, Angel is now a well-known female boxer and is aiming to become World Champion. Originally from Moscow in 2009 she was a contestant on Big Brother UK.

About WinkBall:

WinkBall.com is a free, web-based, personal video communication service, which allows anyone to record, send and share videos with friends and family – privately. Users can also create and post content to video blogs and video walls for group viewing. Video messages delivered by WinkBall can be accessed anywhere, anytime through a web browser.

WinkBall is also used by brands and organisations to share video content, which users can actively choose to watch and share. All messages sent through WinkBall are supported by targeted five-second advertisements, which are played at the end of video messages.

WinkBall is safe, simple and fun and makes video the best way to communicate online.

Established in London in 2005, the WinkBall Project team has evolved to become a leading player in driving the future development of online communication.