The final press conference for Saturday’s all-female card at London’s O2 Arena (ESPN+, 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT) was conducted on Thursday–just two days out from fight night.
The top of the bill sees Middleweight champions and one-time amateur adversaries Savannah Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) and Claressa Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) battle for the undisputed title.
Claressa Shields
“When I win on Saturday night, it’s going to be a great victory for me. I know that this isn’t my first undisputed fight. This isn’t my first time having a very hard training camp and being the underdog. I’ve done this numerous times, and I’ve come out on top every time. It’s going to feel good to just quiet all the doubters about my knockout power, about my skill and about my accomplishments.”
“I’ve never seen something like this in boxing. Someone who lives off of an amateur win for 10 years. God! Sometimes I think about, and it’s like their trying to erase everything I’ve done in the past 10 years because I have been dominant in boxing for a decade.”
“I’m here to fight against who the U.K. considers to be the best. I’m here to fight against who the U.K. considers to be the knockout puncher. I’m here to show you guys that I am a very special talent, and that champions are not made—they are born. I was born to do this.”
Savannah Marshall
“I’ve always had respect for Claressa. What she doesn’t like is that I’ve got an opinion. I sat and watch her box in Cardiff, and I thought it was diabolical. She didn’t like that I told her that. That’s what she got upset about.”
“I’ve been asked this for the past 12 weeks, and I’ve never once said that I’m going to knock you out. I’ve said that I’m going to hurt you, and I will.”
“You don’t like anyone that has an opinion against you. You know why? Because you’re a bully. You’re nothing but a bully.”
“It will mean everything to become undisputed champion. All the blood, sweat and tears. Everything that I’ve gone through. It will all be worth it.”
