Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall fight predictions
Will the ‘GWOAT’ continue her historic reign or could the ‘Silent Assassin’ destroy her target?
The biggest grudge match in the history of female boxing finally comes to a climax on Saturday, September 10 at the O2 Arena in London when bitter rivals Claressa Shields (12-0, 2KO) and Savannah Marshall (12-0, 10KO) headline an historic all-female fight card, live on Sky Sports.
BBN gathered some predictions from their panel of boxing experts, consisting of professional boxers, managers, promoters, matchmakers, writers and more:
Christina Hammer, Two-Weight World Champion
"Savannah Marshall is a very calm girl, it's a big deal for her, the fight night is amazing to see for female boxing. In my opinion, Savannah Marshall can beat her and she will.
"I hope that Savannah can knock her out."
Mikaela Mayer, Unified Super-Featherweight World Champion
“I think that Claressa Shields is going to overwhelm her punches and combinations.
“I do think Savannah is a good boxer and she’s proven herself to be a strong puncher, but I do think that there are some weaknesses there.
"She’s never really fought somebody with the pedigree that Claressa has at this level. I just see Claressa coming out on top.”
Steve Wood, VIP Boxing
"I’m going with Shields. I just think too much has been made of the power of Marshall and Claressa been overlooked. Would like for Savanah to win, and she is capable of winning on points, but have a suspicion that too much will be relied on power and will get nicked on points."
Sam Jones, Head of Probellum Talent Relations
“I think Savannah wins late stoppage or points this Saturday. If it was over three-minute rounds, it would be over in six rounds.”
Duke McKenzie, Triple Champion
“In what looks like a 50-50 fight, this is the cream of the crop where women’s boxing is concerned. I pick Shields to win via a majority points decision.”
Ben Day, Former Southern Area Champion
"I have to go with Shields, she is an absolute beast, and just look at her achievements – a two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-weight world champion!
"Marshall is embarrassing herself a little by keep going on about her poxy win in the amateurs, whixh, in my opinion, means bugger all, but having said that, she’s a good fighter in her own right.
"I’m really looking forward to this fight, I think it’s a brilliant matchup and much better than some of the matchups we've seen from the male fighters recently."
Jamie Speight, Three-Weight Southern Area Champion
"It’s a brilliant fight for women's boxing and boxing in general, made even better by Shields' pure arrogance and, in my opinion, ‘delusion.‘
"I don’t see how she beats Savannah Marshall at all. I see her having the odd bit of success in the early rounds, where both fighters are feeling out each other’s styles and establishing their range, but Savannah is tall, rangey, great jab, also a significant puncher and I see her picking Shields off at range in the early part of the fight using a long range amateur style and neat boxing (with shields having the odd bit of success as previously mentioned). Once the pace slows and the fighters' mobility lessens, I think Savannah will follow her momentum in behind the straight shots and work Shields over inside and eventually get the stoppage.
"If I had to guess, I’d say Marshall between rounds 8 and 10."
Matt Marsh, Former British Champion
"I think it'll be a cracking fight, but Savannah Marshall wins for me on points."
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor
"I do believe that Claressa Shields should be the favourite with her slightly superior skill, depth and talent to Savannah Marshall. Shields is far more experienced and decorated, both in amateur and professional.
"I think she is the better, slicker boxer, and if Marshall is relying solely on her power, then I can see Shields outboxing her to win on points. I will say that I believe that is the only way Shields can win, I don't think she can knock Marshall out, so she should be prepared to go the distance.
"Of course, I want Marshall to win, and she has a great chance of landing heavily with those long levers of hers, plus Peter Fury has been great for her, improving her skillset fight upon fight; they seem to make a great team, but I think Shields might be too cute, too clever, and too slick for her, just."
Barry McGuigan, Former World Champion
“Claressa Shields has more skill than Savannah Marshall so Shields might get into a handy lead. However, Marshall will start to connect as the rounds go on when she works it out that you beat someone that’s faster than you by punching with them. Shields who’s been dropped before may find herself on the seat of her pants and might even get stopped as Savannah overhauls her for wide points win or, as I say, a late stoppage.”
Jack Hughes, Southern Area Super-Flyweight Champion
"Savannah Marshall late stoppage between sixth to eighth rounds."
Ace Adam, Undefeated Super-Middleweight
"Claressa can win on the points if she just uses her boxing abilities and doesn’t trade off with Savannah, which will make it a 50/50 fight because Savannah can punch!"
George Lacey, Sky Sports Producer
"Marshall by late stoppage.
"Shields said Savannah had let her country down in the 'Gloves Are Off' special and you could see that it hurt Savannah. She’ll use that extra motivation to put an end to a 10-year feud stretching back to their amateur days. I expect her to use her height and reach and get it done later on. Peter Fury has her in great shape and the engine won’t let her down down the stretch."
Kalle Sauerland, Wasserman Boxing
“I think it’s a fantastic fight and I believe Marshall will be too strong in the later rounds. I think Shields is a very good offensive boxer but her defense will allow Marshall to force a late stoppage.”
Uros Djikanovic, Boxing Manager & Advisor
"Well honestly I think Savannah Marshall wins this fight. She punches really hard for a woman. I think that she punches harder than some man in that category to be completely honest. I think she is just a much tougher than Clarissa Shields. That being said I think this fight will be a great fight. Clarissa has experience and she is a great boxer but I have to pick Savannah Marshall to win this fight."
