Savannah Marshall v Claressa Shields is on. Or Claressa Shields v Savannah Marshall if you think the American’s name should go first, as indeed the self-styled GWOAT insists.
We know when, September 3, according to Shields, or “early September” according to promoter Ben Shalom from BOXXER.
But where? That is the question.
With Savannah’s hometown of Hartlepool out of the equation, Victoria Park generates some atmosphere but, sadly, there not sufficient seats for a fight of this magnitude.
So it’s going to be Newcastle or London, although probably every major venue around the UK will have sent an e-mail to Shalom since Marshall’s third-round demolition of Femke Hermans in April to say “we’ll host it if you want”.
“We are very close to finalising the venue,” Shalom (pictured above with Savannah) told Sky Sports News.
“The fight’s got so big now that it needs an international venue. It will happen in the UK – all the venues want it.
“It’s going to be between Newcastle and London, we’ll see.”
It was, originally, going to be the Utilita Arena in July, only to be delayed until September.
The Peter Fury-trained Marshall wants Newcastle-upon-Tyne, of course, Shields would prefer Newcastle, New South Wales.
The hostility Claressa felt from the partisan audience that April night when Savannah took out Femke in only six minutes will not have overly bothered her. In fact, it has probably increased her motivation level.
But she will have felt the atmosphere and that was with the venue less than half full.
With 10,995 fans screaming for Marshall and around a taxi-full rooting for Shields, the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBF middleweight champion is aware a night at the Utilita could present a significant advantage to the 31-year-old WBO belt holder.
Shields knows if she is to triumph that it will go to the judges cards – of her eight world title contests, the last seven wins have been by wide points margins.
Given they have agreed a two-fight deal, perhaps the opener could be in Newcastle and the sequel at a larger venue?
If the September showdown is London, it can only be Wembley (capacity 12,500) or, more likely, the 02, who can fit in 20,000.
Marshall would still have the bulk of the crowd though perhaps it would be less intimidating than Newcastle?
To quote Shalom, “we’ll see” and that news could come in the next couple of days.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ BOXXER
