FOR the first time in a while, the Philippine national boxing team will have a member competing in the bigger weight divisions in the Southeast Asian Games in the person of Filipino-British boxer John Marvin.
The 6’1”, Isle of Wight, England-born Marvin, 24, whose Filipino nurse mother originally hails from Pampanga, will be competing for the Philippines for the first time in the biennial regional sporting meet in the light-heavyweight (81 kg.) division after being “discovered” by the team in one of its trainings in Europe.
It is an opportunity that Fil-Brit fighter Marvin is very excited about and looks forward to making full use of.
“My mom is Filipino, she is originally from Pampanga. It’s a massive opportunity for me to represent the country, something I’m really proud to do. I hope to do the country proud by winning the gold in the SEA Games,” said Mr. Marvin in an interview with a group of sportswriters at the send-off for Filipino athletes last week hosted by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.
“I’m really looking forward to my first SEA Games. There’s a bit of nerves, of course, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been training for the worst. I’m training for an opponent with eight arms. I’m fit. I’m strong and I’m ready for anyone they want to bring,” said Mr. Marvin, who is also a member of the British Army with a rank of Lance Corporal.
Having trained as a member of the Philippine national boxing team is an experience, Mr. Marvin said, he is basking in.
“Training here is very different from that in Britain. The climate is different, the coaching is different and the food is different. Everything is different. But I’m learning a lot from the entire team,” he said.
Zeroing in on the Games, with the boxing competition taking place from Aug. 20-24 at the MiTEC Hall 8 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mr. Marvin said he is expecting tough competition from the field but he is not being deterred by it but instead pumped up to get it going.
“Obviously the SEA Games is a huge tournament, something the Philippines looks forward to participate in every time, which is why I really trained hard for it,” said Mr. Marvin.
“I have scouted my opponents and I’m sure they have scouted me as well. But at the end of the day, scouting doesn’t really mean much because it all comes down to what you do in the ring. I have been boxing for a while now and I believe I can do well in the SEA Games,” he added. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
