Claressa Shields v Savannah Marshall is a fight to get any boxing fan on the edge of their seat. Or more likely off it.
It will happen at some stage, it has to, it’s as simple as that.
But the unbeaten Hartlepool star needs to build her minutes in the professional ring before resuming the rivalry born in 2012 in the amateur game.
That means Marshall, the WBA’s inter-continental super-middleweight champ has a six-round non-title excursion in Manchester on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old takes on seasoned operator, Borislava Goranova, on the undercard of team-mate Hughie Fury’s heavyweight clash with unbeaten Canadian Chris Norrad, live on Channel 5.
Given she has not fought since making quick work of Klaudia Vigh in the same Victoria Warehouse venue last November, Marshall is desperate to make up for lost time on this Hennessy Sports-promoted event.
“I’m just looking forward to fighting again,” said.the 2012 world champion and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist
“Through no fault of my own I’ve not boxed since mid-November and it has been frustrating.
“I’m fit, I’ve been in the gym all year and I just need to be boxing.
“This is a nice run-out for me and, hopefully, the bout will stand me in good stead for a very promising rest of the year.”
Marshall has won all five of her professional appearances, the highlight coming at the end of October, when she outpointed a hard-as-nails Argentinian fighter, Yanina Orozco, for her first pro title.
She hammered Vigh to defeat just a couple of weeks later, but has been inactive since, though she has been working hard with coach, Peter Fury, in his gym in Salford.
Goranova (pictured left with Marshall at Friday’s weigh-in) should not present a fighter of Savannah’s capabilities any great headaches, but she is vastly experienced, tough and has not been stopped in seven years.
“She sounds like a hard woman but I just want to concentrate on myself and take into the ring what I’ve been working on with my coach,” she added.
“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.”
Channel 5 will be on air from 9pm on Saturday with their boxing coverage from Manchester.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Hennessy Sports
