Claressa Shields beats Savannah Marshall in historic battle to unify world titles

Muricas News  — 

Claressa Shields grew to become the undisputed world middleweight champion, defeating her bitter rival Savannah Marshall by unanimous determination on the O2 Area in London.

All three judges dominated within the American’s favor, with scorecards of 96-94, 97-93, 97-93, as Shields’ relentless tempo overcame Marshall’s longer attain and extra highly effective punches.

By beating Marshall, Shields avenged the one ever defeat that she has suffered throughout her skilled and beginner profession and confirmed the title she wears on her necklace - the GWOAT, Biggest Lady of All Time.

It was a historic night time for ladies’s boxing, marking the first-ever all feminine card within the UK, in addition to the primary time two feminine boxers headlined at a serious British venue.

“I need to thank Savannah Marshall and her complete staff and the UK followers for being right here as a result of this can be a particular second for ladies’s boxing,” Shields informed Sky Sports activities.

“Right here we're in entrance of 20,000 followers at The O2 Area. It’s an unbelievable second. It was a particular night time for ladies’s boxing and I believe it was battle of the 12 months.

“I do know I did probably the most work as we speak and was profitable with these mixtures. I did what I do in coaching and I received the job accomplished.

“I've been working onerous for a really very long time and nobody has given me credit score.”

Each Marshall and Shields entered the battle with a 12-0 file, the previous because the WBO titlist and the latter because the unified WBC, WBA and IBF 160lbs champion.

And the standard of each fighters was evident from the start, with flurries of punches replied with in variety throughout each one of many ten two-minute rounds.

Shields even revealed afterwards that she couldn't see out of her proper eye after the sixth spherical, so onerous have been the blows struck by Marshall.

“Claressa is a superb fighter - not as quick as I believed! She has positively earned the title of the Biggest Lady of All Time,” Marshall mentioned afterwards in keeping with Sky Sports activities.

“I need to say an enormous due to everybody who purchased a ticket, I actually admire it.

“It’s superb that two ladies have offered out the O2. It’s unbelievable and I thank everybody from the underside of my coronary heart.”

Earlier than Shields and Marshall entered the ring, Alycia Baumgardner grew to become the unified super-featherweight champions with a slim victory over Mikaela Mayer.