It was a press conference filled with mean scowls, long stare downs and choice words–as heated as you would have expected. 10 years in the making, Claressa Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) and Savannah Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) finally came together this week to formally announce their undisputed clash at Middleweight.
On Saturday, September 10, 2022, Shields and Marshall will go at it once more–this time as seasoned professionals in front of a capacity crowd at the O2 Arena in London.
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the current WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Magazine Middleweight champion, will look to avenge the lone loss on her amateur record (77-1) against the WBO titleholder Marshall.
At just 17 years of age, Shields lost by decision to a 20-year-old Marshall at the 2012 AIBA Women’s World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China.
Since then, the two have gone in opposite directions.
After their fight, Shields went on to become one of the most accomplished amateur fighters in the history of boxing–male or female–while Marshall was unable to capture an Olympic medal in two consecutive Olympic attempts and has made a relatively quiet climb up the ranks.
Shields turned pro on the Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward undercard in November 2016 and with the help of Dmitry Salita and Mark Taffet, she has parlayed her Olympic success into an impressive pro career, which includes becoming the first boxer–male or female–to reign as undisputed world champion in two different weight classes in the four-belt era.
Early on in her pro career, Marshall signed with Mayweather Promotions and even made her pro debut on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor undercard. But shortly after her first victory, Marshall decided that Mayweather Promotions and living the United States was not for her (per IFL TV)–even though Marshall states that she parted on good terms with Mayweather and company.
Shields’ run as a pro fighter has been ambitious to say the least. She’s fought on HBO, DAZN, Showtime and even headlined her own PPV card. On top of all that, she’s dabbled in MMA as well. But even with all of her trailblazing achievements and accolades–she seems more focussed than ever to right the only wrong on her boxing record.
“I don’t hate nobody, but I really do have a huge dislike for her,” said Shields during their press conference. “They’re saying she’s a big knockout puncher, she’s the only blemish on my record as an amateur, that she has the recipe to beat me. My job is to show that she doesn’t and that I don’t reign supreme in three different weight classes for no reason.”
Marshall is far less talkative, which is why the “Silent Assassin” moniker suits her perfectly, but she did have a few things to say about the self-proclaimed Greatest Woman of All Time (GWOAT).
“I’m gonna hurt you and I’m gonna out box you. That’s all you need to know,” said Marshall to Shields. “September 10 I will become undisputed Middleweight champion of the world. And that’ll be the end of all this GWOAT rubbish.”
Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall Kick-Off Press Conference
