Victory in Manchester on Saturday night would mean “everything” to Savannah Marshall.
The Hartlepool fighter is challenging Franchon Crews-Dezurn for her IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO world super-middleweight titles.
Some 258 days have elapsed since the ’Spent Assassin’ attempted to win all the belts at middleweight against Claressa Shields in London last October.
Much has happened since, getting over that loss, a “grieving” period the 32-year-old told Boxing News in a column in the Bible of the sport this week, long and unsuccessful negotiations/ squabbles over a re-match with the so-called GWOAT and an already once-postponed confrontation with Crews-Dezurn.
But, finally, on July 1 it will be here – a battle which will decide the destination of all the super-middle spoils, Baltimore or Hartlepool?
Marshall is simply happy to be back and happy doing what she does best – fighting.
“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and putting on a show,” said Savannah ahead of the BOXXER event at the AO Manchester Arena.
“I really can’t wait to bring back all the belts to Hartlepool.”
Victory will make her the eighth undisputed champion on the planet and would make her a two-weight work;d champ, having previously won four IBF middleweight title contests.
“I just can’t wait. I have another crack at being undisputed champion. For me, this is brilliant,” said the former world amateur champion.
“It would mean everything to me.
“I’m getting a chance to get them all again, I will probably never get this chance again.”
A crowd of 8,000-plus is expected at the venue on Saturday night, which follows on from another headline appearance at the 02 Arena, which was full to its 20,000 capacity.
It would not be unfair to say that the two-time Olympian has probably never truly believed, until now, how popular she is.
But the fans love her – she can box, of course she can, but she can also knock people out.
Ten of her 12 professional victories have come early, with all four of her first IBF middleweight wins coming inside a combined distance of 15 rounds.
It’s all a far cry from the early days in the professional ranks.
“I’ve worked hard for this,” she said.
“There was a time very early in my pro career when I had to sell 50 tickets to get a place on a show.
“I remember putting it on Facebook I don’t have 50 friends! It’s come a long way.”
There will be many, many more friends in Manchester this Saturday, plus at least one enemy – expect to see Ms Shields at ringside.
And there will be a formidable opponent inside the square ring – Crews-Dezurn is proud to be the undisputed and boasts an 8-1 record and has never been stopped.
This week, it was just a throw-away line in one of her Sky interviews when she said that Savannah “doesn’t want to fight”.
So, has there been a loss of desire or hunger.
“I don’t know where all that’s come from,” said Marshall who explained how she has gone through a punishing camp to be ready for this occasion.
“Nobody knows me and how hard I’m training and what I go through.
“If I didn’t want to be here I wouldn’t be here, that’s the way I am.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ BOXXER
