Savannah Marshall says she has no ambitions to go to Detroit for a rematch against Claressa Shields after becoming undisputed super-middleweight champion; Marshall beat Franchon Crews-Dezurn by majority decision on Saturday, with Shields watching on from ringside in Manchester.
Sunday 2 July 2023 20:14, UK
Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields wasted no time in resuming their war of words as they planted the seeds to a perfectly-poised rematch after the Hartlepool fighter beat Franchon Crews-Dezurn to become undisputed super-middleweight champion in Manchester.
Marshall sat at her winner's press conference basking in the company of her newly-acquired belts when a magnanimous Crews-Dezurn arrived alongside Shields, who took her place alongside the media, primed to interject. Scene set.
The Silent Assassin was celebrating her first victory since tasting the only defeat of her professional career against Shields in October, the pair's feud stemming from Marshall's win over the American in the amateur ranks in 2012.
"I feel absolutely amazing, I came up short in October, it was the worst feeling in the world but I stuck to it and kept to my dreams," said Marshall.
"I knew Franchon is tough, what a woman, she's amazing, a head like concrete, I knew she'd make it physical, I knew I'd be on the floor at one point - glad it wasn't from a punch!
"She's one tough woman, she's got a head like a brick. She's been through hell and back and she'd do that to keep all the belts.
"I came up short in October, my world was over, but I'm over the moon to be undisputed."
As the final bell sounded on Saturday night and Marshall's job was complete, all eyes would turn to a ringside Shields.
Speaking afterwards, Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom stated "Claressa Shields is the one we want, it's the only fight out there for Claressa", before touting a North East homecoming for Marshall.
"I'd love it to be at St James 'Park, they're really backing female sport at the minute," said the champion.
Shields, the undisputed middleweight champion, had meanwhile been insistent any prospective rematch would have to happen in America.
"I'm not going to Detroit," said Marshall. "I think female boxing at the minute is massive in the UK, there's no money in female boxing in the US."
She went on to dismiss suggestions she might take an easier tune-up style fight ahead of any return meeting with Shields.
"I'm 32, there's nobody else about in the division," Marshall continued. "There are definitely things I'd change from the first fight, it was the best Claressa ever.
"I do want that rematch, but now I'm a champion, there's other options out there for me. I don't think she'll give me that rematch. She has come over here on here own, paid for our own ticket. She was quite embarrassing how she went on screaming.
Having not long walked in the room, it was Shields' turn.
"I want the smoke, you know what's up," said the two-time Olympic gold medallist.
"Come to the USA and you can get smoked again.
"You're talking about an amateur win?! Psycho, delusional.
"I'll smoke your silly a**."
Marshall replied: "Bring me the money! Where are we going to fight, your leisure centre?"
Shields preceded to spring to her feet and direct a flurry of heated words at Marshall, who simply smiled in reply in unison with adjacent coach Peter Fury.
Crews-Dezurn, lapping up the kind of back and forth she had just engaged in for the best part of a week, jumped in to break the tension by offering her services as ring card girl in the rematch, as well as reminding of her own credentials.
"To beat the champ you've got to beat the champ, I'm not happy with no majority decision, after you've finish your business, it can be Savannah or it can be the GWOAT [Shields]," she said.
The 36-year-old left the door open to a rematch against Marshall while paying tribute to both the new champion and another memorable night for women's boxing.
"This is bigger than me, bigger than her, big for woman's boxing," said Crews-Dezurn. "Two Olympic level athletes facing one another, for myself I'm daring to be great, it's not easy going to a different country and fighting a favourite.
"I'm not trying to take the moment, to know I have a place in the evolution of woman's boxing, to know that after all these years I can still compete and put on a show [it's amazing], we had a sell-out arena. I did something nobody else has done and sung the anthem.
"It was a good fight, I'm happy it brought the fire out of Marshall, I know what it's like to be written off. I saw it in her.
"I would love to do it again, I know they have plans, I have plans as well, this is what keeps the sport going. Keep making money, putting on good shows.
"I'm here to stay, it ain't over!"
