Savannah Marshall says it will only take “a few minor tweaks” to exact revenge on Claressa Shields

Q: MORE THAN two months have passed since the first loss of your career to Claressa Shields in a big, crossover event. What is Savannah Marshall’s life like?

SM: I feel good, maybe a bit bored now, so looking forward to going back to the gym in the new year.

I was exhausted after the battle, I think I slept for three days! It has been under construction for a long time, especially after the September date was postponed at the last minute. I went to Borneo on vacation. I need a break and it’s nice to go.

Even though I didn’t get the results I wanted, that’s if I still win – if that doesn’t sound crazy.

It’s been great to promote a sold-out O2 with Claressa Shields and the feedback I’ve received from everyone has been amazing.

I am proud to be a part of this historic night of women’s boxing but I still want to achieve my dream of becoming the undisputed middleweight champion of the world.

Q: You said recently that the rematch clause has been activated, will there be another match for you first?

SM: I just want to fight Claressa again and win all the belts. BOXXER and Sky Sports are ready and they are driving the fight into the summer of 2023 at St James’ Park. That would be unbelievable.

Whether I want to box first then there is a question mark against it. For me, a super-middleweight world title fight would be an option if I’m allowed, but that depends on Peter. [Fury, trainer] and Mick [Hennessy, promoter] to arrange if there is a fight before the rematch.

Q: Shields won your match in October by a unanimous decision on points. Steve Gray had 96-94 but the American and Italian umpires both scored 97-93, a total score that Peter Fury described as “ridiculous”. Review tonight, what do you lose?

I haven’t watched it yet, but I’ll probably watch it before we fight again. I really didn’t need to see it, the first time I had the best view in the house!

I honestly thought it was close. I thought if I got the green ball I might have had a draw, but it wasn’t. Credit to Claressa for winning but two scores 97-93 is too wide.

Are you shocked by her belligerence and do you have the confidence to turn the tide in a rematch?

I’m not really surprised about Claressa, I never expected her to touch and run. She stood and fought, I expected her to start quickly and thought I might be down soon.

I’m proud of how hard I fought, I didn’t leave anything in it and being part of such an unbelievable night was amazing.

But are there things I want to do that are tactically different? Correct. For obvious reasons, I won’t say too much, but I think I just need a few tweaks.

I believe it’s close and I believe I fought the best Claressa Shields that night at O2 but I know I can do better. The rematch gave me a chance to correct my mistakes. I am confident that I have defeated her.

Q: Your promoter Ben Shalom spoke after the game about moving the women’s championship games to three-minute rounds. Chantelle Cameron supported it but some opposed it, arguing that the two-minute formula makes competitions more interesting. Where do you stand?

SM: Three minutes would suit me better. People talk about it being more interesting in two minutes but why can’t it be more interesting in three minutes?

I am confident that I can maintain my form for more than three minutes. There were discussions about doing this rematch in three-minute innings.

That would be an important development for women’s boxing. If we’re talking about pushing barriers and having real equality, then three-minute rounds would be a big breakthrough.

I debuted professionally with four three [against Sydney LeBlanc] And the longer the rounds, the better I can box.

Q: How much do you look forward to going back to the gym with Peter Fury?

I love working out so I’m still ticking but I’m really looking forward to next month. Peter is as upset as I am about the loss and we have talked a few times and we are looking to get back to work. He also had some time off the gym, which was a long year for both of us.

Q: Sometimes after great losses you see the boxer and the coach parting ways. World champion Josh Taylor even changed coaches after a win, albeit a controversial one, swapping Ben Davison for Joe McNally. Any thoughts on a change of direction?

SM: I will never leave Peter, we have a great relationship. What he did for me was amazing, he made me a world middleweight champion. When a boxer leaves a trainer, it takes time to build a new relationship, which can take years, but our relationship is so strong, I have no reason to leave.

I completely trust Peter and there is no other coach I would like to work with.

He coached me before I debuted and after I came back from America, he has been coaching me ever since. I love Peter, he made me the warrior I am today.

Q: You didn’t beat GWOAT but on the background you are huge and topped two shows for BOXXER and Sky, first at Newcastle and then at O2. Ben Shalom talked about you as one of his company’s main headline activities, how do you feel about that development?

SM: The best decision of my career was to leave Matchroom to sign with BOXXER and Sky Sports. What BOXXER and Sky have done is amazing, not only for me but also for women’s boxing. They had the Claressa Shields match and they made it a big event.

Q: BOXXER and Sky attracted large viewership and the match was also shown slowly on BBC. Promoters have made a deliberate decision not to go the pay-per-view route in an effort to maximize exposure. Where do you stand in the rematch?

SM: It’s great that so many people watch it. The 20,000 spectators for the night was a great mix and the atmosphere was absolutely unbelievable, many consider it to be one of the best matches and atmosphere of the year.

Lots of women watched on TV, which is great for the event and women’s sport.

I will pay per view for the rematch. I worked hard to get where I am and such an event would generate a lot of money, and in my opinion, at this point in my career, I want to maximize my income. enter your own.

Q: Has your career changed dramatically in 2022, a brutal knockout to Femke Hermans followed by a long and intense build-up against Shields before the world champion’s big game world unbeaten at O2. We’re not sure if we can call you the Silent Assassin anymore. What can we expect in 2023?

SM: I got hit by Claressa that night but the reaction I got from everyone was amazing and my profile skyrocketed. I know boxing is a business and I need to sell myself. I joined Soccer AM last weekend and stuff like that is what I’m holding onto now.

To be a part of that historic night for boxing and women’s sport was unbelievable, but I’m a boxer and I still want to achieve my dream of being the undisputed world champion. . I believe my moment will come next summer.