Unbeaten and unbeatable. That is Savannah Marshall.
The WBO world middleweight champion produced the most clinical of maiden defences in London, where she knocked out Swedish sub Maria Lindberg in one minute, 11 seconds of round three.
One-sided was not the word for it against the seasoned campaigner who had never been stopped in a proud 29-fight record.
Yes, Lindberg, at 44 is in the last steps of a long career and, yes, she was coming in as a late replacement after original opponent Femke Hermans was forced to withdraw after one of her coaching team tested positive for coronavirus.
But it is hard to see anyone living with the 29-year-old and that includes the GWOAT, Claressa Shields, the American appointing herself as the Greatest Woman Of All Time it has to be said.
The clamour is now growing even louder for Shields v Marshall, though the unbeaten Hartlepool star (the only boxer to inflict defeat on the double former Olympic champion) does not believe her arch-rival will take the USA v GB showdown.
“I punch too hard for Claressa Shields,” Marshall told Andy Scott of Sky Sports.
“I hit far too hard, she doesn’t want to know. She’s not interested [in fighting], she’d much rather roll around the octagon [in MMA] and call out Katie Taylor who’s not even at her weight.
“I’m not going to wait around for her. I’d like to fight again in the summer – the IBF belt is available or I’d like to go back to super-middle and win titles there.”
It was an easy night’s work for the 2012 World Amateur gold medalist at the Copper Box Arena.
Having looked so smooth in the first round, when she eased out her quick jab, the Peter Fury-trained talent stepped it up in the next session sending the Malmo boxer crashing to the canvas with a right to the chin.
Lindberg got up at “eight” of referee Bob Williams’s count and saw out the last few seconds of the round, although Marshall did drive in a good left to the body.
It looked only a matter of time and when another right chinned Maria in the third down the challenger went, with Mr Williams counting her out.
“Full respect for Maria for stepping in because on Sunday night it looked like I wouldn’t have a fight at all,” said Savannah.
“It is hard when there’s a change in opponent and you’ve trained for weeks on a certain style.
“She’d never been stopped and I never expected it to go like that and I’m over the moon with how I performed.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Dave Thompson/ Matchroom
