Savannah Marshall-Claressa Shields 2!
Sounds good, doesn’t it? But before Marshall can even start dreaming about a second match with the American great, she must account for Sanna Turunen.
The Hartlepool fighter faces the unbeaten Finland middleweight at Bolton on Saturday, May 12, when she boxes as a pro in the UK for the first time.
Marshall’s international battle with the Finn forms part of the support card to the British heavyweight title confrontation between Sam Sexton and Hughie Fury, who are pictured with Savannah (above).
It will all be shown live on Channel 5.
These are exciting times for Marshall, a home fight and on ‘normal’ telly.
But there is nothing normal about a showdown with Shields.
Marshall sorted out the USA sensation at the 2012 World Championships, beating a teenage Claressa on the way to gold in China.
Since then, Shields has been undefeated, winning everything, including Olympic gold in London and Rio and is now a professional world champion.
A WBC/WBA World Championship trans-Atlantic tussle would appear inevitable.
“There are some elite girls around my weight class like Christina Hammer and Hanna Gabriels and of course Claressa Shields,” said Marshall.
“It’s an exciting time for women’s boxing and I can’t wait to get the big fights on.
“Shields is unbeaten in five fights and already a unified world champion so there’s not reason why I can’t be facing her again soon as long as I keep busy and improving.
“I’d be very confident going into a rematch with her.”
However, Marshall is only into fight two of her pro career and insists it’s one bout at a time.
“I have this fight in Bolton to concentrate on,” said the 26-year-old.
“I can’t really look beyond Turunen. It will be a hard contest.
“She’s unbeaten and boxed 28 rounds already and I’ve only done four, so I need to build my experience and rounds.”
Words: Roy Kelly
