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LIVE: Claressa Shields is the undisputed middleweight champion! The GWOAT produces a stunning performance to beat Savannah Marshall by unanimous decision in an absolute war

By Oli Gamp For Mailonline

Claressa Shields had the last laugh over Savannah Marshall to end their bitter rivalry as she became the undisputed middleweight champion with unanimous decision to clinch an incredible, bruising brawl that will go down as a fight of the year contender.

Shields and Marshall left absolutely nothing in the ring as they treated fans to a slugfest inside the O2 – swinging wildly at each other throughout – but it was Shields who edged the momentous showdown with heart and bravery to see off the British favourite.

The judges handed her the victory with two scores of 97-93 and one of 96-94 – and after this barnstormer fans will be craving chapter II.

At a sold-out O2 Arena this felt like a defining moment for women’s boxing. An all-female undercard for the first time in boxing – and an undisputed clash between these two fierce rivals capping it off – as 20,000 fans roared the two fighters to the ring.

After two emotional renditions of God Save the King and the Star-Spangled Banner, this massive contest got underway.

Shields had promised a knockout and a one-way fight in her favour, and in an electric first round she threatened to come through on her promise.

Marshall started off in confident fashion as the crowd belted out her name – before Shields left her stunned as she unloaded with a series of viscous hooks that rocked the British home favourite and put her in serious trouble.

Marshall answered back with a combination of body shots in an incredible start to round one, before she came back stronger in the second – connecting with a big right hand and a couple of stinging jabs to keep distance to her rival.

With Marshall looking level-headed again after that crazy beginning, she pinned Shields to the corner in the third and let fly at her with some powerful hooks as both fighters continued their onslaught on each other – barely taking a moment to pause.

Shields looked livelier in the fourth, showing her speed to slip a few Marshall hooks and answering back with an impressive combination. A brilliant left hook closed out a dominant round as caught an exhausted-looking Marshall clean.

The pace of the fight slowed down somewhat in the fifth but both Marshall and Shields kept up the intensity by landing a series of body shots – before Shields caught her with a huge left hand. Marshall left Shields hurt in the sixth after a powerful left caught her flush in the corner and the American’s fatigue began to show. This was becoming a straight shootout as Shields fired back at her opponent with two straight rights.

This swinging match continued in the seventh as Marshall desperately tried to break through the resistance of Shields – to no avail. The American pulled off a terrific combination towards the end of the round – and by round eight the O2 was stunned to see the pair still had energy to keep at each other.

Marshall came fighting back in the ninth with Shields looking like she had edged ahead on the cards – swinging wildly at the American, who was leaning on the ropes. She stuck out a tongue to show she was far from done.

As this exhausting and bruising fight came to a conclusion, Marshall started to run out of steam as she chased a stoppage. But Shields hit back with two huge right hands as the final bell rung. Both women had their hands raised, but this was Shields’ moment. They call her the GWOAT, and tonight she earned it.

Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for updates on Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall, as well as full undercard coverage. 

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