Relive the build-up and drama of one of the most historic and iconic nights of female fighting action at London's O2 Arena.
Claressa Shields further cemented her legacy with a stunning unanimous decision victory over Savannah Marshall to become the undisputed middleweight queen on a historic night of boxing at London’s O2 Arena.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist and multiple three-weight world champion produced a tactical and technical masterclass to avenge the only defeat on her professional and amateur record in front of over 20,000 spectators.
All three judges scored the bout heavily in the American’s favour – 96-94, 97-93 and 97-93 – as she added Marshall’s WBO strap, together with the WBC’s commemorative ‘Elizabethan Belt’, to her unprecedented array of titles.
“It was a great fight and I was happy that I was able to show everybody how the ‘GWOAT’ operates over here,” Shields, who now boasts a 13-0 record, told the media in her post-fight press conference.
“I told you all that I had everything needed to beat Savannah Marshall and I proved that was the case. She is a hard puncher and she caught me with a shot and she still has a lot to give the sport but I knew I had her – I maybe gave her one or two rounds throughout the fight.”
Marshall, who tasted defeat for the first time as a professional, was understandably disappointed to have not backed-up her amateur triumph over Shields on the professional stage, but acknowledged she had no qualms with the judges’ decision.
“Look Claressa is a top quality fighter, she won that fight. She has a lot of speed and skill, and she has gone out there and definitely earned the title of Greatest Woman of All Time!
“I’m naturally disappointed that I came up short, but if this has done anything for female boxing and if I have helped to spur young girls and boys into going to the gym to take boxing up, then I am happy with that.”
The two long-time rivals headlined a momentous night of all-female fighting action – one that saw Alycia Baumgardner dethrone the unbeaten Mikaela Mayer to unify the super-featherweight division in controversial circumstances.
Meanwhile, 2020 Team GB Olympians Caroline Dubois and Karriss Artingstall both extended their unbeaten records, whilst Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price notched up her first stoppage win since turning professional against Hungary’s Timea Belik.
BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom added; “It was an incredible night, an incredible main event, and I couldn’t be more proud of Savannah, and all of the girls who put it all on the line in front of a huge audience.
“I couldn’t believe that I was sat at ringside looking up at a packed out O2 Arena seeing 20,000 people at a women’s boxing event. It was an iconic night – Shields and Marshall will forever be tied now, and this will go down as one of the biggest nights in women’s boxing.”
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