All eyes will be on one of the world’s boxing hot spots in the wee small hours of Saturday.
As they should be, as Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano indulge in their own World War 3 in Madison Square Garden.
But punch-lines would direct you towards a bout an hour or two before Taylor-Serrano 3 as Savannah Marshall looks to re-ignite her career by beating Shadasia Green in a super-middleweight unification confrontation live on a Netflix extravaganza which features six world title contests.
It’s a fascinating match with a capital F as Ring belt holder Marshall defends her IBF championship in New York, where she is trying to wrest the WBO title from the grasp of the 35-year-old from nearby New Jersey.
Just a couple of fights ago, Marshall was one of the hottest tickets in town – headlining the O2 in London in an epic winner-takes-all middleweight battle with arch-rival Claressa Shields before topping the bill in Manchester exactly two years ago when she won all the belts at super-middle against Franchon Crews-Dezurn.
Since then all we’ve seen of the Hartlepool fighter has been a few minutes of all-out violence on her Mixed Martial Arts debut 12 months ago in Newcastle, where Mirella Vargas was on the receiving end in the Professional Fighters League.
Marshall had fully expected to be back in her ‘regular job’ in March on Boxxer’s all-female card at the Royal Albert Hall. Not so and boxer and Boxxer went their separate ways.
“While I’ve not boxed in two years, I’ve stayed fit and strong,” the 34-year-old said in an in-depth interview with Boxing News. “I’ve still been training.
“I’ve been stripped of three of my belts and I’m here to pick them back up, starting with the WBO title.”
It will not be straight forward.
Green is the USA’s version of Marshall, with ’The Sweet Terminator’ 11-10 up in the early finish stakes, an incredible stat in women’s boxing where stoppage percentages are low.
The American (15-1) won the vacant World Boxing Organisation title back in November with a split-decision over Canada’s Melinda Watpool in Arlington.
She has had four contests while the Peter Fury-trained Marshall (13-1) has been inactive, prompting suggestions that the ’Silent Assassin’ might be rusty, suggestions batted away by the Hartlepool fighter.
“I’m 100 per cent confident,” said Savannah, who is about to make her debut for Most Valuable Promotions after signing a four-bout deal with Jake Paul.
“Everything has gone brilliant in camp with Peter.”
Click here to read Savannah’s full interview with Boxing News
They have one common foe on their records – Crews Dezurn. Marshall beat Franchon two summers ago on points while the ‘Heavy Hitting Diva’ outpointed Shadasia in Orlando on December 2023.
“I’m not looking too much into that fight,” added the former Headland ABC star. “Shadasia is a proud champion and she hits hard.
“I’m under no illusions, it is a tough fight.”
Marshall looked very relaxed at Wednesday’s media conference in New York.
She turned out in working clobber, tracksuit top and shorts, while others on the stage were dressed to the nines.
A statement of intent punch-lines asked of the IBF and Ring champion?
“I just didn’t get the memo,” she laughed.
While all eyes might be on Taylor-Serrano 3, don’t miss Marshall v Green!
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: MVP/ Netflix
