Claressa Shields says she will impressively prove she’s better than Savannah Marshall.
The American star was scheduled to knock out her opponent on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London (ESPN+), a fight originally scheduled for September 10 but postponed to later. Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
“The postponement of the game is like a stroke of luck in disguise,” Shields said, according to Sky Sports. “The goal is even bigger now, from September to now. I knew I was going to beat Savannah Marshall on September 10th, but now I really feel like I’m going to beat Savannah Marshall.
“This will be my declared fight.”
Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) was the only man to beat Shields (12-0, 2 KOs), having overtaken the then 17-year-old in the 2012 AIBA Women’s Boxing World Championships.
However, Shields went on to win two Olympic gold medals, win professional titles in three divisions and become the face of women’s boxing while Marshall failed to win a medal and eventually won a professional belt. in 2020.
One area where Marshall could argue she’s superior to Shields is punching power, as she has a 10-2 advantage in knockouts. Marshall used the term “fist” to describe Shields.
Shields responded to such talk by saying that her objections were stronger than Marshall’s. And, more recently, she told members of the British media that fans will see who hurts whom when they finally meet again in the ring.
“She said all that stuff about fists on the pillow,” Shields said, “but she wasn’t going to stand there and fight me. She won’t be able to handle my blows. She can’t write to me. She is not highly skilled.”
She continued: “You all say she’s a knockout, you all say she’s going to knock me out, you all say I can’t keep her from me , she’s too strong, too big.
“You all say it, not me, so when I beat her easily and I [am] which dropped her off and her face turned purple after I didn’t want to hear anything more. Just tell me congratulations and leave me alone.”
And, finally, Shields says Saturday’s results will provide further proof that she’s the best female boxer ever.
“I’m really excited to prove that I’m the greatest woman of all time,” she said. “Is Muhammad Ali claiming to be GOAT just because he claims to be the first GOAT? No. He accomplished everything he set out to do.
“He had the file; He beats the best when all odds are against him. Is me. Two Olympic gold medals, 12 world titles. Three different parts. Two times without controversy. What is self-proclaimed? No, it’s people calling themselves stupid if they’re going to say I’m self-proclaimed.
“I am not a self-proclaimed GOAT. Everyone calls me that. If you respect the game and if you respect women’s boxing, I’m on top.”
