Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall CONFIRMED for September 10 at the O2 Arena

Sparks flew as Savannah Marshall vowed to expose Claressa Shields when they settle their 10-year feud on a history-making night of women’s boxing. 

‘I will put an end to all this GWOAT (Greatest Woman Of All Time) rubbish,’ Marshall warned ahead of their September 10 showdown. 

Britain’s WBO champion faces WBC, IBF and WBA titlist Shields for the undisputed middleweight championship at the O2 Arena, atop the first televised all-women’s professional boxing card in Britain.

The eagerly-anticipated bout, after months of verbal sparring between the pair, was finally announced on Tuesday afternoon, with Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner the chief-support as they fight for the WBC, IBF and WBO super-featherweight world titles. 

American Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-division world champion, is the self-styled GWOAT. 

But the only blemish on her 12-0 record came a decade ago, at the hands of Hartlepool’s Marshall. Both are unbeaten as professionals and now their paths cross once more. 

Marshall, also 12-0, has defended her respective strap on three occasions since becoming champion with victory over Hannah Rankin in 2020, defeating Maria Lindberg, Lolita Muzeya, and, most recently, Femke Hermans. 

Marshall’s stunning knockout victory over Hermans not only furthered her reputation as one of the most devastating punchers in the women’s game, but also pushed the impending bout closer, with the long-term rivals furiously clashing after the fight. 

Shields holds the WBC, WBA and IBF belts, while Marshall is the WBO middleweight champion

The long-term rivals furiously clashed after Marshall knocked out Femke Hermans in April

‘This fight has been a long time coming but we’re here now. September 10 I will be the new undisputed middleweight champion of the world,’ Marshall said at Tuesday’s presser. 

‘I’m a fan of Claressa Shields, what she’s done for the sport is amazing, she’s a pioneer but the reality is she doesn’t beat me, she didn’t before and she won’t again.’  

‘It kills her,’ she added on that sole defeat. 

Shields, meanwhile, insisted the dislike between the pair is genuine. ‘Marshall got lucky in 2012, she won’t get lucky in 2022,’ the American hit back.

‘I was 17, she couldn’t shake me, she couldn’t drop me… now all of a sudden she’s a knockout puncher. 

‘I don’t hate nobody but I really do have a huge dislike for her… she’s the only blemish on my record and she has the recipe to beat me, it’s my job to show that she doesn’t.’ 

Shields promised to end the fight in the later rounds and taunted Marshall about her double Olympic success. The pair have long traded trash talk in anticipation of this reunion, which was delayed by surgery to Marshall.

Promoter Ben Shalom (right) insists this is the biggest rivalry ever in women’s boxing

The match-up has been compared to Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano, which made history in April by becoming the first women’s boxing fight to headline Madison Square Garden. 

Promoter Ben Shalom insists this is the biggest rivalry ever in women’s boxing, however. 

‘It’s finally here. All sports need major rivalries to transcend their boundaries and this is the biggest rivalry ever to come from women’s boxing,’ he said. 

‘This is a major moment for the whole sport of boxing, a transatlantic fight which will bring new light to the sport. 

‘Two major stars, two elite athletes, two personalities and a story that you could not make up. 

‘Thank you to all the promoters and managers involved to make a fight that many thought could not happen. A historic night awaits at the O2.’