Savannah Marshall “knows” how to beat the world’s greatest woman fighter and plans to repeat her success over Claressa Shields in the next 18 months.
But the unbeaten WBA inter-continental super-middleweight champion, who makes her first appearance of 2019 next week in Manchester, says she will do things her way and not be dictated to by her former amateur foe.
Shields currently owns all four major world belts at middleweight and a USA-UK clash with Marshall would prove one of the biggest fights ever in the women’s game.
The only defeat in Claressa’s glittering career came at the hands of Savannah who mastered her en route to World Championship gold in China in 2012, beating her 14-8.
You get the impression the Hartlepool boxer is bored by Shields, who said she would “kill” Marshall following her win over Christina Hammer when she unified the world titles and recently referred to her as a “bum”.
“I intend unifying the world titles at both weights, no particular order,” said Marshall, who insists she is concentrating on what she must do.
“So far, I’m the only one in the world who knows the secret to beating her.
“It was under the old scoring system and I beat her very clearly. Claressa has offered many different recollections of the fight.
“Whatever. I beat her.
“We’ve both improved considerably since.
“She went on to win double Olympic gold (London 2012 and Rio 2016) and I didn’t even medal so I know I’ll enter a big underdog.
“But, if and when the rematch happens, I know I can win again.
“I’m very confident in my ability. I don’t need anyone else to tell me what I’m capable of, or not. I know myself.”
What Marshall needs now is fights and rounds.
She will make a welcome return to the square ring live on Channel 5 on Saturday, May 25 at Manchester Victoria, where she fights on the undercard of her gym comrade Hughie Fury who faces undefeated Canadian Chros Norrad.
“I just need to keep active, be involved in more 10 rounders and acquire the experience of fighting before thousands on big shows,” said the ex-Headland ABC middleweight.
“By the end of this year, I’d hope to be 10 and 0 and knocking on the door for a world title, either at super-middle, or at middle against Claressa.
“I’ve been in the gym all year building on my game, improving my strength and all-round technique with Peter at the Salford ABC gym.
“There’s just myself and Hughie in camp at the moment and it’s a very chilled
Savannah Marshall “knows” how to beat the world’s greatest woman fighter and plans to repeat her success over Claressa Shields in the next 18 months.
But the unbeaten WBA inter-continental super-middleweight champion, who makes her first appearance of 2019 next week in Manchester, says she will do things her way and not be dictated to by her former amateur foe.
Shields currently owns all four major world belts at middleweight and a USA-UK clash with Marshall would prove one of the biggest fights ever in the women’s game.
The only defeat in Claressa’s glittering career came at the hands of Savannah who mastered her en route to World Championship gold in China in 2012, beating her 14-8.
You get the impression the Hartlepool boxer is bored by Shields, who said she would “kill” Marshall after unifying the world titles and recently referred to her as a “bum”.
“I intend unifying the world titles at both weights, no particular order,” said Marshall, who insists she is concentrating on what she must do.
“So far, I’m the only one in the world who knows the secret to beating her.
“It was under the old scoring system and I beat her very clearly. Claressa has offered many different recollections of the fight.
“Whatever. I beat her.
“We’ve both improved considerably since.
“She went on to win double Olympic gold (London 2012 and Rio 2016) and I didn’t even medal so I know I’ll enter a big underdog.
“But, if and when the rematch happens, I know I can win again.
“I’m very confident in my ability. I don’t need anyone else to tell me what I’m capable of, or not. I know myself.”
What Marshall needs now is fights and rounds.
She will make a welcome return to the square ring live on Channel 5 on Saturday, May 25 at Manchester Victoria, where she fights on the undercard of her gym comrade Hughie Fury who faces undefeated Canadian Chros Norrad.
“I just need to keep active, be involved in more 10 rounders and acquire the experience of fighting before thousands on big shows,” said the ex-Headland ABC middleweight.
“By the end of this year, I’d hope to be 10 and 0 and knocking on the door for a world title, either at super-middle, or at middle against Claressa.
“I’ve been in the gym all year building on my game, improving my strength and all-round technique with Peter at the Salford ABC gym.
“There’s just myself and Hughie in camp at the moment and it’s a very chilled environment. “[In Manchester] I’ll be looking to put everything I’ve learned over the last six months into action; settle into the fight quickly and produce a good all-round display.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
