Only Covid 19 can stand in the way of Savannah Marshall becoming world champion.
So says the boxer who plans to add the WBO middleweight title to the world championship gold she won as an amateur on her 21st birthday.
Now, more than eight years on from that famous day, she will take on tough Scot Hannah Rankin for the World Boxing Organisation’s vacant middleweight belt on Saturday, October 17.
The 29-year-old had been scheduled to challenge Geovana Peres for the New Zealander’s WBO light-heavyweight first on April 4 and then June 27 on the undercard of the Lewis Ritson-Miguel Vazquez showdown in Newcastle.
Both nights were postponed in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, though the promoter Eddie Hearn insists this date WILL go ahead.
“The only thing that will stop me becoming world champion on October 17 would be another Covid lockdown,” Marshall told punch-lines.
While the unbeaten Hartlepool star is respectful of Rankin’s fighting spirit, she does not feel the 30-year-old has the qualities to beat her.
“Hannah is tough,” admitted ‘The Silent Assassin’ who has been involved in a previous social media spat with her opponent.
“She’s the former IBO world champion and she’s challenged three times for world titles.
“Hannah has gone the distance with Claressa Shields and has done the rounds.
“But there is nothing she does that I’ve not got an answer for.
“Hannah fancies herself, but I’ve not got a problem with that, you have to be confident as a boxer otherwise there is no point turning up.
“She’ll probably try to stick it on me and outwork me, but she can’t stop me from becoming world champion.”
Rankin deserves respect for going on the road for three of her world title matches, including a 10-round points defeat to the unbeaten Shields in Kansas in November 2018. Her overall record is a very good one of nine wins with four losses.
This will be Marshall’s first tilt at the world crown having picked up a WBA Inter-continental super-middle belt along the way in an eight-bout winning streak, six of her victories coming inside the distance.
“It’s good to be boxing at middle,” said the Peter Fury-trained fighter. “It wasn’t ideal going up to light-heavy but it was a world title chance.
“I think there was a problem with Geovana coming over but then the WBO middleweight title became vacant and Hannah agreed to the fight which was great.
“I feel good and can’t wait for the night to come around.”
The location is still unsure given the current climate but what is certain is that Ritson-Vazquez will still be the headline act, with Tommy Ward and Joe Laws among the support cast.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins/ Hartlepool Life
