It has been the best part of nine months since Savannah Marshall’s unanimous decision loss to American star Claressa Shields, and now the Hartlepool native has admitted the loss has been hard to overcome.
It was a bold step up for Marshall to put her WBO world middleweight belt on the line against Shields at the O2 Arena in London. But the reward for a win would have been to retain her own belt and become undisputed middleweight champion by taking all three of Shields’ titles – the IBF, WBA and WBC.
The ‘Silent Assassin’ has admitted her game plan was wrong from the start and has long since said she would like a rematch.
Speaking to Seconds Out, she opened up on the aftermath of that fight.
“I went through every emotion going. It was hard. I was really confident going into that fight. I said in interviews beforehand that I knew a win would change my life forever so it was hard, really hard for me.”
When asked if she fancied an easy comeback to rebuild, Marshall says no.
“Boxxer mentioned a couple of opponents but for me, at the higher weights, the pool is so shallow. I just couldn’t get up for an eight-rounder. For me to do a camp for someone I’m expected to walk through, how could I expect people to come and pay money to see me walk through someone?”
Next up for Marshall has a second chance at becoming undisputed when she fights Franchon Crews Dezurn on July 1 in the Manchester Arena for all four world super middleweight titles.
“I’ve known Franchon for a while, she’s the undisputed champion, she’s tough, strong, solid. She likes to bully opponents and walk forward, she has the strength, so that’s what I expect her to do Saturday.”
Marshall will be hoping she and trainer Peter Fury get the game plan right this weekend.