Savannah Marshall’s offensive power was once again demonstrated tonight at Newcastle Arena.
Marshall successfully defended her WBO middleweight title with a left hook baseball bat that sent her Femke Hermans challenger down late in the third round. The impact of the shot was such that the fight was immediately extinguished.
A keen observer has united 160 lbs champion Claressa Shields, who is taking down her next opponent with an undisputed title clash to be announced very soon.
Hartlepool’s Marshall is a hit in the Northeast and brings with it the pressure of knowing that one of the biggest bouts in women’s boxing is at stake. Geordie loyalists would be relieved as they greeted Marshall down the slopes and into the ring with a warm welcome.
The first two minutes are a moving around for both. Marshall unleashed his stab while the elusive Hermans waited for the opening.
The champion switched stances in the second half looking to cause more problems for her Belgian opponent. Hermans, who overcame Shields four years ago and is a former world champion, was a moving target knowing that her stronger foe could end the matter in a heartbeat.
Hermans sneaking into the right hand in the second half reminded everyone that this is not a foregone conclusion. That could have been a wake-up call as Marshall began to close the gap and take advantage of more opportunities.
Marshall is happy to wait for her moment no matter how long it will take. Hermans was having to trade, her movements were being clamped to the ropes and corners. Marshall went on to double down on her shots in the third round, and in the first minute she started opening up with her punches.
Hermans stands her ground and gives back what she can.
The champion suffocated her and chipped her. With only seconds left, a terrible stab wound Hermans. Marshall continued with a straight hand refusing to let her target go and with the bell about to begin both women threw shots, but the left hook hit Hermans and that was it. .
“I’m absolutely on the moon,” Marshall told Sky Sports.
“Unbelievable. I feel like I’m floating.
“Femke is an excellent fighter. She is very awkward. [I] I knew if I caught her I would hurt her, but I didn’t think she would come out like that.
Then the conversation turned to an undisputed confrontation against Shields.
“There was no one else standing in my way and Claressa. It was me and Claressa in the summer. I beat Claressa. Claressa can’t handle my power. I believe I have hurt Claressa very badly.” However, Shields did not succumb to the opponent’s performance.
“I am not Femke Hermans. I’m not Hannah Rankin. Her punch power is so much, I’m sorry to tell you if that’s what I’m supposed to expect it to be wiped out. I went away with Femke four years ago. She definitely won’t knock me down. “
Promoter Ben Shalom flagged a super battle between Marshall and Shields just as Boxxer and Sky were able to secure a broadcast deal with the WBO champion.
“It’s very, very close,” he said. “Problem of the day. We want it to happen here in Newcastle. This is where it will happen. This is where it deserves to happen. This will be a classic fight and an important milestone for women’s boxing in general. We are looking at the end of June, the beginning of July. ”
As fans began to filter out Marshall and Shields went head-to-head in the ring with abusive words and berating each other. This summer, they will have the chance to tackle their long rivalry in the ring.
I will not say anything.
