Savannah Marshall told Claressa Shields to expect a painful night when the pair meet in the summer in a hugely-anticipated undisputed bout.
Marshall defended her WBO belt in Newcastle with a third-round stoppage of Femke Hermans, paving the way for the fight against Shields, holder of the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBF and The Ring titles, who was watching on ringside.
Promoter Ben Shalom confirmed that the fight is just days away from being officially confirmed, with it set to take place in either late June or early June. Shields is set to accept the bout in the North East.
The two met back in 2012 in the amateur ranks, with Marshall the only fighter to ever beat Shields. She is expecting a similar outcome in a few months’ time.
“It’s me and Claressa in the summer now,” Marshall said after beating Hermans.
“I know Claressa can’t handle my power, I know when I land on her it’ll be good night. I believe I severely hurt Claressa.
“It’s got to happen here in the North East.”
Shields defeated Hermans herself, back in 2018, and was not particularly impressed with what she saw from her big rival despite the devastating third-round stoppage.
“Congratulations, that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Shields said.
“I’m not Femke Hermans. I’m not any of those girls she’s fought against. As much power as she has, if that’s what I’ve got to look forward to then it’s going to be a wipeout.
“She’s going to have trouble with me and she’s not going to knock me out.”
Tyson Fury’s uncle Peter Fury trains Marshall, who revealed that he is the only man that she trusts in the sport.
He believes that the bout will be the biggest women’s fight to take place, surpassing even Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano’s clash later this month in New York.
“This is the biggest fight in women’s boxing, bar none,” Fury said.
“It’s the middleweight division, a red hot division. A power puncher against an excellent boxer. A massive fight for America and the UK.
“This fight needs to happen and I believe it happens next. There’s no-one else in this division. These are the best two and they need to square off. Simple.”
