Claressa Shields will have to wait patiently for a lucrative Trans-Atlantic world title tussle with Savannah Marshall. Or possibly wait impatiently?!
Marshall is just three bouts and eight rounds into her professional career and intends to build her experience rather than rush into a USA v UK battle with the WBC and IBF super-middleweight champion.
Of course, it is one of THE fights fans would love to see, not to mention the two boxers. Remember the scoreline so far is Marshall 1 Shields 0, the only blemish on the career of Claressa, who fights Hanna Gabriels for the WBA and IBF middleweight belts in Detroit on Friday night.
Marshall will be keeping an eye on the action from afar, following her third win at the weekend when she stopped Alejandra Ayala inside two rounds at the East End’s iconic York Hall.
“Claressa would fight me next week,” smiled the 2012 World champion.
“She’d jump at the chance, but I’ve got to look to do what’s right for me and that’s grow my experience in the professionals.”
Read Savannah Marshall v Alejandra Ayala report here, brought in association with Grand Central.
Marshall says her, manager Mick Hennessy, and coach, Peter Fury, are looking to get into double figures before taking on a world title mission.
It’s not to say there won’t be any titles along the way, the Hartlepool girl’s former Team GB colleague, Natasha Jonas, recently won the WBA International featherweight belt in her sixth pro appearance.
“I’ve spoken to MIck and Peter and we’re looking at something like 10 to 12 fights and hopefully fight for the world title late next year,” explained the 27-year-old. “I’d be over the moon with that.
“I don’t think we need to rush, it will be nice to build my experience and earn a little bit of money.”
Marshall is likely to be out again early in the 2018-19 season and, hopefully, on TV too.
Her two-round stoppage of Ester Konecna in Bolton was show on Channel 5 and satellite station, Dave, screened her thumping win over Ayala, a hard-as-nails Mexican, who had never been stopped.
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“On paper it was a really tough match,” added Savannah. “When I won my last fight, Ester had not gone down so it was nice to put her down to make a statement.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Hayemaker Ringstar
