Savannah Marshall is excited to have been handed her first fight of 2021 even though a couple of key questions remain unanswered.
Of the four Ws, who, what, where and when, the ‘what’ and the ‘when’ can be clarified straight away – the 29-year-old will make the maiden defence of her WBO world middleweight title on Saturday, April 10.
But the ‘who’ and the ‘where’ remain up in the air.
Marshall produced one of the finest performances of 2020 when she stopped the brave and respected Scottish fighter, Hannah Rankin, inside eight rounds at Wembley on Halloween night for the vacant World Boxing Organisation belt.
The ‘Silent Assassin’ was named as part of the bumper winter and spring schedule unveiled by Matchroom, whose supremo Eddie Hearn went berserk by announcing five shows, all screened by Sky Sports.
No venues have been announced for any of the events, no surprise given the current state of the nation in the coronavirus pandemic.
That leaves us with the identity of the opponent to speculate over, but whoever is in the opposite corner, Marshall is hoping for an acid test.
“I’d love a fight which will bring out the best in me,” the Hartlepool girl told punch-lines.
“I’m grateful to have got a date in the first part of the year and I’m looking forward to defending my belt.
“But if I’m going to box Claressa Shields this year I’m going to need some hard contests to get ready for it.”
There are a couple of good candidates for the challenger’s position.
Ema Kozin, linked previously to a bout with Marshall, would provide an attractive option. Unbeaten in 21 appearances, the 22-year-old known as ‘Princess’ is the current interim WBC title holder and the owner of two minor world belts having beaten Uruguay’s Chris Namus in Germany in October.
Belgium champion Femke Hermans, a former challenger to Shields, would also be a legitimate opponent for the two-time Olympian.
The 30-year-old, with an 11-3 record, won the European middleweight crown in December when she outpointed Russian Luiza Davydova.
It will be interesting to see who gets the job of trying to put the brakes on the Marshall bandwagon.
The imperious Peter Fury-trained star has won all nine of her professional fights with the flawless Wembley triumph over Rankin her seventh inside the distance.
She is training hard under her coach at the gym of stablemate, Hughie Fury, in Cheshire.
“I’m pretty fit,” said Savannah. “I trained all over Christmas and there is plentry of time to p[ick things up, I’m still 12 weeks out from the fight.
“I’ve not done any sparring though I did a bit with April Hunter in December who’s a really good prospect.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
