Savannah Marshall will face former world champion Femke Hermans when she makes the maiden defence of her WBO middleweight title.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has announced that the 31-year-old, from Belgium, will be the opponent for the unbeaten Hartlepool fighter at Matchroom’s April 10 event which will, almost certainly, be staged in London.
Hermans will be no pushover as an excited Marshall told punch-lines.
“I’m ready for the fight,” she said. “It’s my first defence and I want to put on a good performance.
“Femke is the reigning European champion after winning the title just a couple of months ago.
“She is a top boxer with a very good pedigree and is a very awkward opponent.
“I’m going to have to be at my best and that’s what I’m aiming for.”
Marshall is putting her eye-catching World Boxing Organisation belt on the line for the first time since her brilliant Halloween victory over Hannah Rankin at Wembley.
It was her ninth win since turning professional and earned her great praise from across the boxing spectrum, especially given that ex-world champ Rankin had never been stopped before and had gone the distance with American great, Claressa Shields.
Hermans has the same lines on her CV. Beaten only three times (all in world title bouts}, she has done the full 10 rounds with Shields in a unification contest in the USA, where she lost on a unanimous points verdict, while she has always made it to the final bell.
Femke, who boasts 11 victories (four early) is a former wearer of the WBO crown, having defeated Germany’s Nikki Addler in Augsburg in May 2018.
Since losing to Shields at the end of 2018, Hermans was narrowly beaten in a shot at the IBF super-middleweight title before she won the European middleweight crown on home territory last December when she outpointed Russian Luiza Davydova.
“I’m very happy with the fight,” said the Peter Fury-trained Marshall. “I wanted a good opponent.
“She’s never been stopped and has been the distance with Claressa.
“It’s been a fight I’ve known about for a week or two, but until it’s announced officially you don’t want to get too excited.
“I’m pleased it’s out there, training has gone really well and I can’t wait for April 10.
“I’m part of a good bill that has Conor Benn on it, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Marshall, a winner of all nine of her contests (seven coming inside the distance), made history with her Wembley joy against Rankin, becoming the first Briton (make or female) to win world amateur and pro titles inside the ring.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
