Savannah Marshall Wants Claressa Shields Rematch – For Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship | Boxing news
Savannah Marshall intends to return to boxing in 2025 and pursue a rematch with Claressa Shields, all the way up to heavyweight.
Marshall’s only defeat in professional boxing came against long-time rival Shields in the 2022 major event.
The British woman became the undisputed super middleweight world champion in 2023 with a victory over Franchon Crews-Dezurn, but last year she did not box at all as she switched to MMA and competed in the PFL.
But he plans to return to boxing in 2025. He wants to chase a rematch with Shields, and especially wants to fight the American superstar for the title of world heavyweight champion.
Shields fights Danielle Perkins for the WBC, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles on February 2.
Marshall expects Shields to win that fight and would welcome a heavyweight title fight with her arch-rival.
“I think I’m going to follow Claressa’s example, go up,” Marshall said Sky Sports. “Hopefully that will reopen that fight.”
It’s a fight Marshall wants more than any other, and potentially capturing the undisputed heavyweight title would be even more appealing.
“I went to MMA hoping to catch her there, but it didn’t happen,” Marshall said. “Fight in March, and then, hopefully, she in the summer.
“Size-wise, I’m probably the biggest anyway, height-wise, structure-wise. The pool is so shallow, with the competition. I could carry lightweight, heavyweight, heavyweight. It’s not really a problem.”
She believes boxing Shields at heavyweight could give her advantages. Marshall said, “I did [bigger than her]. And hopefully that will slow her down a bit! So that’s a plus.
“This is the biggest fight for both of us.”
Marshall also believes her new experiences with MMA will make her a more dangerous fighter.
“I was in a period of my career where I needed a bit of a change. I boxed for a long, long time, I boxed for about 23 years,” she said. “I think wrestling and wrestling is the best form of S&C you can get, I’ve never been that strong. I’ve never been that fit.”
But she added: “I know where I went wrong [in the first Shields fight]. I know the mistakes I made. And look, I think the first fight was exciting, so let’s make the second one even more fun.”
Shields’ promoter Dmitry Salita has invited Marshall to be at ringside for Shields’ next fight.
“The rivalry between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall has a rich history. It made Claressa travel thousands of miles to avenge her only loss, delivering an incredible performance in one of the best fights I’ve ever witnessed,” said Salita Sky Sports.
“Their story goes beyond the ring, and Savannah even appears in Claressa’s film ‘The Fire Inside’, which has garnered much attention in the US and will soon be released in the UK.
“The film’s exposure and storytelling is invaluable, offering new fans a deeper connection to women’s boxing. This not only enhances the sport, but also makes the rematch – or rather, trilogy – even more compelling, with the potential for global crossover appeal.
“We invite Savannah to be ringside for Claressa’s fight on February 2nd in Flint and are eager to discuss making a professional rematch a reality in the second quarter of 2025.”
Watch Caroline Dubois vs. Jessica Camara live this Saturday Sky Sports.
