Born in Torrance, California, Sabres’ heavyweight, John Marsh, now lives in Redondo Beach, California, and he comes with impeccable credentials: He’s David ‘Tank’ Abbott’s training partner.

John’s first fighting art was wrestling, which he took up at age 15 due to the influence of his older brothers, before switching to boxing because of a change in sporting curriculum at his school.

“They pulled the wrestling program from us in junior college (El Camino College), so there was nothing else to do. My brother was a boxer also, and friends of mine at the local gym I went to encouraged me to start boxing,” says Marsh.

Realizing John’s potential, pro-boxing coach Charles Dundee, who Marsh met when he started going to a gym called Boxing Works, quickly took him under his wing.

It was after this that John began training with Royce Gracie: “I actually did a pro-boxing bout in Atlantic City, and after winning the bout, a gentleman came up to me and said, ‘That was great – here’s my card. How would you like to take the gloves off and get paid more money than what they’re paying you to do this?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’

“I did well, but it was a lot different to boxing. It was an MMA tournament and I didn’t really have any jiu jitsu background. From that point on I thought it was really tough. But the guys who did the jiu jitsu were pretty savvy at it. We started talking and they told me about Royce and the UFC. This was way back around UFC 1, and a friend of mine from the gym said he trained at the Gracie Academy, and he would take me down to meet Royce. I went down there and started training with Royce.”

John worked hard to develop his MMA and had a great deal of success before encountering a number of setbacks, which lead to his adapting the adage: “Life without obstacles leads nowhere.” (see www.johnthebullmarsh.com) But Marsh showed incredible heart and persevered. Today he is the heavyweight representative for what is one of the IFL’s most highly anticipated new teams: the Sabres. 

John, do you include Thai boxing techniques in your game now?

“Yes, absolutely.”

What training do you do with Tank Abbott?

“He’s a good guy to have putting the pressure on. I have him coming at me using his power and his size, trying to take my head off. I use my conditioning and attempt to stay safe using my defense: I try not to get caught.”

Is it mainly boxing that you do with Tank?

“We do a lot of boxing and a lot of wrestling.”

What’s it like training with him?

“It’s good… It’s not too bad… I just don’t like getting hit by him. When my defense is doing good that day, it’s not too bad.”

At ROTR 5, you dominated Cabbage in all three rounds of that bout. Did you and David talk things over before his rematch with Cabbage in Hawaii?

“Yeah, actually we did. I told him not to mix it up too much, but to box Cabbage.”

Do you also train with Eddie Ruiz?

“I’ve trained with him a couple of times, but he’s a lot lighter than I am.”

When you used to do security for the Hollywood Athletics Club, was that mainly as an instructor?

“I was a security for the night club, but I also ran a program for security guards through the night club, to train other night club runners in how to take people out of clubs and stuff like that.”

Did you also train police officers?

“I presently train several different departments – just tactics on how to apprehend people that might be versed in a little MMA. Everybody coming up now seems to know a little bit… My boxing coach is actually the captain of El Camino PD, and I work with those guys and some of the guys from Manhattan PD.”

These days, do you prefer to stand and bang, or fight on the floor with wrestling and submissions?

“No preference – the same either way; I train equally on both.”

How did you come to be with the Sabres?

“A mutual friend of Ken Yasuda’s and mine worked for Mr. Inoki’s gym where the Sabres were training, and he brought my name up and Ken agreed. I was asked if I was interested and it went from there.”

What do you know about Chad Griggs?

“I know that he’s a strong guy and wants to go for the knockout. That’s pretty much all I know about him – he just comes in swinging for the fences and will want to take my head off.”

His record is 4-0, with three by TKO and one by submission. Will experience be your greatest asset against him?

“I believe so.”

Do you train with Vladimir?

“Oh, yeah: Vladimir and I have been training partners for years.”

What do you do with him?

“A lot of grappling.”

Do you have a prediction for your fight with Chad?

“No I don’t have a prediction – other than a win.”

John, is there anything you’d like to add?

“I’d just like to mention my coaching staff: South Bay Fight Club, and my coaches, Bo Hershberger (BJJ), Mitch Tavera (boxing), Joe Pardo (MMA), and John Sibbald (Muay Thai).”

Sponsors?

“Gold’s Gym at Redondo Beach, Lotar Self-Defence, and Dreamkrusher Clothing.”

For more on John Marsh: www.johnthebullmarsh.com

For more on the IFL: www.ifl.tv.