Claressa Shields is hoping a ‘terrified’ Savannah Marshall doesn't again out of their large unification combat this summer season – warning she is coming to the UK to offer her outdated rival nowhere to run.
A defeat to Marshall in a 2012 newbie contest is the one blemish on Shields’ impeccable boxing report and the supply of an intense rivalry the 2 have shared during the last 10 years.
The Michigan fighter, who at the moment holds the WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight titles, is among the most embellished energetic fighters in boxing, turning into the quickest man or girl in historical past to win world championships in three completely different weight lessons whereas ruling as undisputed queen in two of them.
A deal to combat WBO middleweight champion Marshall in July is regarded as shut. That bout will function one other historic second for ladies’s boxing, following on from Katie Taylor’s titanic conflict with Amanda Serrano at Madison Sq. Backyard on Saturday.
Shields nonetheless stays unconvinced Marshall really needs the combat.
‘I'm already absolutely ready to win this combat and to go to the UK to combat her,’ Shields informed .
‘I've been telling folks for years, she is scared of me. Regardless of what number of ladies she has knocked out or what her report could present, she is aware of I'm a special type of animal and he or she will not be in a position to knock me out or stroll throughout me. It will be the hardest combat of her life.
‘That win [Marshall beating Shields in the amateurs] after I was 17 is the place her confidence comes from. I've already confirmed that I'm higher than her, with my two Olympic gold medals, my world championships, my world titles in three divisions.
‘I hope it'll be this summer season as a result of I've different issues I wish to do earlier than the tip the 12 months.’
Shields is trying to recreate her exceptional boxing achievements on this planet of MMA, having signed a contract with the Skilled Fighters League in December 2020. The 27-year-old has fought twice underneath the PFL banner up to now with the promotion hoping she is going to decide to their common season format the place she will be able to launch a title bid in 2023.
Shields has a 1-1 report in MMA having suffered a cut up determination defeat in opposition to Abigail Montes final October and is predicted to return to the cage later this 12 months after the Marshall combat with an settlement shut.
‘We're finalising particulars with Boxxer this week and hope to make an announcement over the following few weeks,’ Shields’ supervisor Mark Taffet mentioned. ‘The combat should happen by July due to Claressa’s contractual commitments to PFL for the autumn. Claressa merely doesn't consider Savannah needs the combat however we hope in any other case.’
Shields has large plans in each her skilled and private life over the approaching years and insists she can't put her profession on maintain for anyone – together with Marshall.
‘I don’t have time to be ready round for Savannah Marshall to point out up,’ she mentioned. ‘I've bought enterprise to take care of in MMA in 2023 after which I get married in 2024. So I don’t actually have time to attend for ‘Marshmallow’ to get her s**t collectively.
‘I'm by no means going put my very own profession on maintain for Savannah Marshall or for anyone.’
Whereas there's a deadline of types, Shields is adamant she is going to silence Marshall this 12 months. There have been fireworks as the 2 got here face-to-face following Marshall’s KO win over Femke Hermans in April with the 2 sharing the identical ring once more for the primary time since that newbie combat a decade in the past.
With Hartlepool-born Marshall roared on by the Newcastle crowd that night time, Shields was given a style of the type of reception she is going to obtain on UK soil.
However the double Olympic champion is able to play the villain and expose her outdated rival on the largest stage.
‘We're not going to let someone dwell off a win that occurred 10 years in the past, are we?’ Shields mentioned. ‘And we aren't simply to disregard my accomplishments which have occurred in that 10 years and her failures which have occurred in that 10 years, are we?
‘They're terrified that I'll shake up her up mentally and mess up her combat. Each time I get face-to-face along with her all I sense is sarcasm and concern. I'm severe enterprise and he or she now is aware of she has signed a cheque that she will be able to’t money. She is aware of she is in bother.
‘I don’t thoughts being the villain. I don’t like Savannah Marshall, I don’t like anybody who helps Savannah Marshall, I'm going to beat her up.
‘I used to be over there arguing with that Newcastle crowd, ‘it's possible you'll not like me however you'll respect me’ and I’m going to make her bow down in entrance of all of them.
‘She has at all times tucked her tail between her legs when it’s time to combat the true combat. That's the reason she has bought no Olympic gold medal.’
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