Shields Beats Marshall On Points In A London War

Shields Beats Marshall On Points In A London War

The night deserved, demanded even, a fight to match the historic occasion. We got that and more.

Claressa Shields was inspired and simply far too good for an incredibly brave Savannah Marshall as she became the undisputed middleweight champion of the world last night at the O2 Arena in London.

Shields took the fight to Marshall from the opening seconds, and looked as though she would stop her opponent in the 6th round. But Marshall came firing back in the 7th, the first round I could really give her. I added the 9th to her tally, but everything else I gave to the American. Some had it closer, but there was only one winner. And that was apparent from the early stages. The judges had it 96-94, 97-93, 97-93. A fight without controversy.

Marshall needed the big punch to land, but that fight changing shot never in truth, looked like coming.

In full Apollo Creed attire, Shields gave us a Rocky type performance in a fight that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Hollywood movie franchise. It was simply incredible, and one of the greatest fights I have had the pleasure of witnessing from ringside. The special night got the special fight.

Marshall found success. Shields found more. Even when her back was against the ropes, Shields countered effectively and brilliantly and her accuracy, speed and workrate was just too much for an opponent who never stopped trying to salvage her night.

All the anger, all the bad blood had been punched out of each other at the final bell to be replaced by hard-earned respect. There wad talk of a rematch, but I’m not sure it happens. Shields will walk back into her PFL MMA commitments, and may target Natasha Jonas or Terri Harper next. Marshall may just walk away.

People will debate if Shields/Marshall was better than what Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano gave us in April. I think it was a better pure fight in front of an equally red-hot atmosphere. People will debate. And that’s progress. On a night of progress and acceptance.

Shields has proved herself yet again, a mesmerising persona, and a fighter of the highest quality. People may have laughed at her GWOAT claims. Nobody will be laughing now.

Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer