Ahead of their fight on Saturday night, another battle has been brewing between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall – who has the better acting chops?
The pair were originally due to settle their differences in the ring on September 10, however the fight was postponed at the very last minute out of respect for the Royal family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Now, after a month’s delay, the elite female fighters are ready to go.
Before the two meet again this week for their second press conference, we’ve taken a look back at one of the highlights of the first. Namely, their impressions of one another.
Claressa Shields & Savannah Marshall’s impressions of each other 😂
🤜 #ShieldsMarshall | @savmarshall1 | @claressashieldspic.twitter.com/MfB952Gi0h
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 6, 2022
It was a rare moment of frivolity in an otherwise tense rivalry. Despite not yet reaching the heights that Shields has in the sport, Marshall boasts a win over her opponent from the amateur ranks. It’s something that the American has been keen to dismiss as irrelevant, but she’ll also be looking to set the record straight come Saturday night.
Many in the sport see it as a battle of technique versus power. That’s not to say that either is lacking in the other department, rather they’re just special talents in one particular area.
Plenty of predictions go like this – if it ends in a stoppage, Marshall’s hand will be raised, but if it goes to the cards, Shields is likely to return to American victorious. This is a prediction that Shields disagrees with, claiming that she will KO her British rival.
The bout for the undisputed middleweight championship takes place on Saturday night at London’s O2. The event will be broadcast on Sky Sports, and is a historic all-female right card with championship chief support from Mikaela Mayer and Alicia Baumgardner.