Savannah Marshall-Claressa Shields: A matter of time or mission impossible?
Probably somewhere in between, certainly if the promoter of the self-appointed GWOAT – Greatest Woman of All Time Shields – is to be believed.
Dmitriy Salita, in an interview with The Ring, says that Team Shields are “always open to do business”, hinting that talks could even begin this summer.
Dreams of the arch-rivals resuming their rivalry after Shields outpointed Marshall their historic showdown for all the middleweight belts in London in October 2022 had, sadly, faded.
But hopes have risen this week following the return of ‘The Silent Assassin’ after the 33-year-old joined forces with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
The Hartlepool star became the American Billionaire’s third UK signing, following on from world super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney and Chantelle Cameron, the WBC interim lightweight champ, who was unveiled on the same day.
Ring reported on Tuesday that Marshall will defend her IBF and The Ring super middleweight titles, against reigning WBO champ Shadasia Green on July 11, on the undercard of Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano 3 at Madison Square Garden.
It must be stressed that MVP have NOT yet announced Savannah’s debut but if The Ring’s report is correct then it would certainly help the process along, especially with Shields defending her heavyweight crown against New Zealand’s Lani Daniels in Detroit just two weeks later.
The original Marshall v Shields event was promoted by BOXXER and shown by Sky, and Salita believes SAvannah’s switch to MVP has revived talk of a re-match.
“We’re always open to do business,” Salita said in an interview with The Ring.
“And from our company’s point of view, we’ve shown we do business with everyone in the sport. That’s our motto.
“We certainly would welcome, down the road, an opportunity, if it makes sense, for Claressa to fight Savannah in a rematch.
“We’ve always been open about making the re-match with Savannah.
“One of the requirements was that it has to happen in the United States.
“Claressa’s movie [The Fire Inside] was just shown in movie theatres not just in the United States, but throughout the whole world. Obviously, Savannah is in that movie as her rival.
“So, that rematch makes a lot of sense. And certainly, [Marshall] fighting in the US gives us the possibility to gain more interest.”
Clearly, much must happen before lift-off. Marshall (13-1, 10KOs) would have to account for Green first. The 35-year-old, from New Jersey, dubbed ‘Sweet Terminator’ boasts a very similar record, her fight log being 15-1, with 11 wins inside the distance.
They were primed to meet in late 2023, but a hand injury put the Peter Fury-trained boxer out of action.
Marshall has not fought in the boxing ring since becoming the undisputed world super-middleweight champion in July 2023 in Manchester, where she took the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring titles from Franchon Crews-Dezurn.
Her only sighting since in a sporting setting came in Newcastle last July, when she gave gutsy Brazilian Mirela Vargas a severe going over on her Mixed Martial Arts in the Professional Fighters League.
Now she is very much back under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules and joins an impressive MVP cast list which includes Serrano and America’s Alycia Baumgardner.
Click here to read full interview with Dmitriy Salita’s full interview with The Ring.
“I’m delighted to say I’m now part of MVP, who, more than any other promoter, recognise the value that women bring to this sport,” said Marshall on Monday’s big announcement.
“As a two-weight world champion and previously achieving undisputed, it only feels natural to be here.
“I can’t wait to begin fighting under their banner.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
