The undisputed middleweight title fight between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall is officially on!
Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom gave confirmation to Sky Sports News today.
“Early September – both fighters are ready, both fighters are signed,” said Shalom.
“I can’t wait. It’s taken a while. Claressa has finally got her match. It’s the first time we’re seeing a genuine rivalry in women’s boxing, and that’s a sign of the times
“It’s an incredible time for the sport and an incredible time for any woman getting into the sport of boxing.”
Women’s boxing has hit a purple patch in recent times. Madison Square Garden staged an epic between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano in April. This week has already seen the announcement of the super featherweight unification between Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner, and now the middleweight grudge match between Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) and Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) is a goer.
Earlier this week it had been revealed their proposed summer scheduling for the fight was scrapped because of Marshall requiring arm surgery. Shields believed it was mind games and the WBC, WBA and IBF champion threatened to walk away from the fight if it wasn’t made for September.
Marshall, the WBO title holder, had hoped to secure the fight for her local fans in Newcastle but Shalom says it may take place elsewhere in the UK.
“We are very close to finalising the venue,” Shalom said.
“The fight’s got so big now that it needs an international venue. It will happen in the UK – all the venues want it.
“It’s going to be between Newcastle and London, we’ll see.”