Injury has ruled out Savannah Marshall from a high-profile pre-Christmas fight-night but the world champion insists she will be back early in 2022.
The 30-year-old has withdrawn from the third defence of her WBO middleweight belt, scheduled for December 11 because of a hand problem.
It means she misses sharing the Cardiff stage with her arch-rival Claressa Shields who boxes in the UK for the first time, defending her WBA, WBC and IBF belts against the undefeated Ema Kozin, plus the eagerly-anticipated middleweight showdown between Chris Eubank Jnr and Liam Williams.
Marshall and Shields were expected to be the chief supports to Eubank in Birmingham, but the BOXXER event will now take place at the Motorpoint Arena, where Sky Sports will broadcast it.
“I’m disappointed I won’t be able to box, but I’ll be on Sky and BOXXER’s first show of 2022 in February,” Marshall told punch-lines.
The Hartlepool fighter damaged her left hand during her incredible top-of-the-bill demolition of Lolita Muzeya in Newcastle last month.
It’s not a bad injury but the turnaround from that defence to her next one was too quick.
“I thought there might have been a fracture but a the scan showed there wasn’t and it was just bad bruising and swelling,” Savannah explained.
“I still can’t punch yet so I just didn’t have the time to prepare so I had no choice but to pull out.
“But I’m in the gym and ticking over fitness-wise, I just can’t punch.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out in February.”
Marshall is still likely to be a part of all the razzmatazz in the Welsh capital given there is the intense rivalry with Shields to stoke up ahead of their mega fight next year.
The American, unbeaten as a professional and a two-time Olympic gold medallist, has signed a seven-figure deal which was struck between BOXXER and Sky Sports and her management at Salita Promotions.
On the subject of rivalries, they don’t come much more intense than England v Wales … or this particular Battle of Britain between Eubank and Williams.
Eubank’s record at 31-2, with 23 wins by stoppage, has him ahead of Williams at 23-3 (18 early) but both will be highly motivated, not just to settle the verbal argument but to move to a world title fight next.
“I’m only involved in big fights from now on and this is the fight people want to see,” said Eubank. “They want to see if Williams can back up what he’s been saying – which he won’t. I’m on a mission towards world titles and Liam Williams is someone I’ve got to go through to get there. I’m looking forward to shutting him up.”
Williams said: “A lot of people have been calling for this fight for a long time. I personally think it’s the biggest all-British fight outside of AJ and Fury.
“People are talking about how he’s brought Roy Jones in to improve him but if I’m being totally honest I don’t think he’s improved one bit.”
It’s a beauty and will be on Sky Sports Boxing, NOT Box Office, it’s just a shame there is no Savannah.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
