BN Preview: Emiliano Marsili, at 47, will become the oldest European champion in history if able to beat Welshman Gavin Gwynne

By Matt Bozeat

THE file books could also be rewritten at the York Hall on Friday night time (December 1) when Gavin Gwynne meets Emiliano Marsili for the vacant European light-weight championship.

At the age of 47 years, three months and 21 days, Marsili, a southpaw from Civitavecchia in Italy, can become the oldest to win European honours.

The file is at the moment held by one other Italian, Gianluca Branco, who was 44 years, two months and two days previous when he received the 147lbs belt in November 2014.

Marsili already holds absolutely the longest present unbeaten file in professional boxing. He is 42-0-1 in a profession that began means again in May, 2003. The solely blemish was a 10-round break up draw towards Giovanni Niro in November 2006 – some 17 years in the past. Niro went on to retire with a 14-0-2 file, whereas Marsili has carried on – and on.

British followers might bear in mind him stopping Liverpool’s Derry Mathews in seven rounds in January 2012, the solely time Marsili has fought exterior Italy.

He was pressured out of a combat with Dejan Zlaticanin for the vacant WBC belt in June 2016 via sickness and his profession has peaked along with his 4 defences of the European championship (2013-2015).

Gwynne has watched Marsili on You Tube, seemed at his file and concluded: “His time’s up.”

The 33-year-old Welshman (from Treharris in the County of Merthyr Tydfil) has a superb story himself, the comparative toddler grew to become a champion at the third try after losses to Joe Cordina and James Tennyson.

Gwynne went on to become Commonwealth champion by breaking Sean McComb’s coronary heart and he’s gone on to add the British title, outpointing Luke Willis for the vacant belt and defending twice, towards former sparring associate Craig Woodruff.

They fought out a draw in a home fight-of-the-year contender final September earlier than Gwynne received the rematch in 5.

Woodruff merely couldn’t stick with Gwynne, a 6ft tall punching machine from Tony Borg’s gymnasium who lives up to his ‘Merthyr Mexican’ nickname.

Marsili is a cagey left-hander, 5 and a half inches shorter than Gwynne and clearly is aware of how to win fights.

Gwynne says he will become the first to beat Marsili by making him work for 3 minutes of each spherical. Marsili ought to know sufficient to final the distance, however Gwynne on factors is the decide.

There’s extra light-weight motion when Sam Noakes faces Carlos Perez, a 36-year-old former Spanish champion.

The combat was scheduled for the Joe Joyce-Zhilei Zhang rematch undercard in September earlier than Perez pulled out via harm.

Perez, stopped solely on a reduce in 28 earlier fights, might give Noakes some rounds, might even take him the full 10.

He’s positive to give Noakes a greater work out than his final opponent.

The first punch Noakes landed on Kartik Kumar in April made the Indian look anxiously at his nook and Noakes went on to drop him twice and file a seventh win inside two rounds.

He has solely been previous 5 rounds as soon as, when stopping Shaun Cooper in 9 two years in the past.

Noakes confirmed then he can begin quick, drop the tempo after which decide it up once more and we fancy he can cease Perez late as nicely.

Wycombe featherweight Raven Chapman meets Lucie Sedlackova, a match that was scheduled for Telford in March earlier than the Czech pulled out via sickness.

Chapman is coming off a career-best 10-round factors win over Brazilian super-bantamweight champion Lila Furtado, boxing from the third with a reduce beneath her left eyebrow to win a aggressive combat unanimously.

Karina Szmalenberg (Poland) is a typical opponent. Sedlackova drew together with her, beat her narrowly over eight and dropped rounds in a 3rd combat over six.

Chapman dominated her over six.

She can win on factors.

There’s a superb match at 122lbs between stylists Brad Strand and Welshman Joshua John. They meet over 10.

Strand had a win over Liam Davies in the 2018 Elite bantamweight last as an beginner, spars Nick Ball and, boxing behind a quick jab, he’s been faultless as a professional.

Also a top quality beginner, John has a slender loss to high quality Scot Mark McKeown (6-0) on his professional file and Strand may outpoint him.