By: Sean Crose
“After a ten-year war of words,” Boxxer stated in a press release on Monday,
“The biggest showdown in women’s boxing history will come to a dramatic conclusion in Britain’s historic capital.” Undoubtedly, Claressa Shields, arguably the best fighter in women’s boxing, will take on arch-rival Savannah Marshall, the only boxer to beat Shields in the boxing ring, on September 10 at the Gymnasium. O2 match in London. Even though the first Shields-Marshall was an amateur case, there is still a bad bloodstain to be found here. “I don’t hate anyone but I really hate her,” Shields said at Monday’s press conference. “My grandmother told me not to use the word hate so I won’t use it, but I don’t like Savannah and she’s one of my biggest haters.”
Shields-Marshall will win the undisputed middleweight championship. Shields 12-0 holds the WBC, WBA and IBF belts while Marshall 12-0 has the WBO belt in hand. Shields, notably, has held the undisputed middleweight championship before. She has also held the undisputed light heavyweight championship. According to the press release, Shields is “the first and only boxer to ever hold four major titles in two weight classes at the same time.”
Marshall, of course, is losing confidence. “I am really a fan of Claressa Shields,” she said at the press conference. “She is a pioneer and what she has done for the sport is amazing. But the reality is, she didn’t hit me. She has done it before and she won’t again. And it kills her, it completely burns inside her, in fact I hit her and I’ll hit her again. I’m not just hitting her, I’m going to hit her. I will hurt her. ”
There’s another big fight to be found on the Shields-Marshall card. WBO and IBF lightweight lightweights Mikaela Mayer will face off against WBC lightweight Alycia Baumgardner. The winner of that particular fight would be just one more title away from being the undisputed champion of the division. “I’m here to make the biggest battles possible,” Mayer said, “so I salute my team for making her an offer she can’t refuse. “
Mayer also made it clear that she doesn’t see Baumgardner as her rival. “So far, I’ve done everything I said I would,” she said, “and this next fight will be no different. I have all the tools and experience I need. There are many levels to this sport, and she is nowhere near me. You can bet on it.”
The Shields-Marshall Card will be broadcast live in the United States on ESPN+.
