Claressa Shields is one step closer to becoming more prominent than the GWOAT, or Greatest Woman Of All Time.
Shields is now getting one step closer to possibly becoming the greatest boxer of all time, but she has to first get through her nemesis, WBO women’s middleweight champion Savannah Marshall.
Over the weekend, Marshall defended her championship against Femke Hermans, winning via knockout in the third round at Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, England.
Marshall Law
“There’s no one else in the way between me and Claressa, it’s me and Claressa in the summer,” Marshall said.
“I know Claressa can’t handle my power. I believe I severely hurt Claressa. It’s Great Britain versus America.”
Cue Bill Duke’s detective character’s infamous line in the West Coast movie classic “Menace II Society”: “You know you done f***ed up, right?”
GWOAT Talk
While Shields currently holds the WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring female middleweight titles. She was in the crowd and walked through the ropes after the win to let Marshall know how she felt about Marshall’s win.
“I told her bring that punching power with her in the summer. I don’t want to hear no excuses,” Shields said to the U.K. media.
“When I beat her, I want everybody to remember she said she was the biggest puncher in the middleweight division. Im going to show everybody, punching power can’t do sh*t to me, nothing.”
"I know Claressa can't handle my power!"
What a statement from @Savmarshall1 👊#MarshallHermans pic.twitter.com/1U7vWUovty
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) April 2, 2022
The Moment Approaches
The bad intentions were clear, and Shields understands the moment’s weight. The win sets up an undisputed championship at the middleweight level between Shields and Marshall, a fight that both fighters said they wanted.
However, that isn’t what makes the matchup historic; the fact that a Shields win would make her a two-time undisputed women’s world champion is nothing short of legendary.
Shields is the only boxer in history, male or female, to become an undisputed champion in two weight classes and a unified champion. Shields is one of four women to have become undisputed in the four-belt era.
A League Of Their Own
Having all the titles in the four-belt era is something only six male boxers have accomplished: Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, and Canelo Alvarez.
However, aside from the glory associated with potentially being undisputed for the third time, twice in the same weight class, Shields is looking for payback in a matchup with Marshall.
Arguably the most outstanding amateur boxer ever, Shields’ only loss in the amateur ranks was to Savannah Marshall. Shields still salivates thinking about avenging her only blemish, even with a flawless professional career with two Olympic gold medals before that.
Challenges, Fish & Chips
Shields signed with Boxxer, a U.K.-based boxing promotion with Sky Sports for U.K.-based boxing programming. Her reasoning was simple: that’s where Savannah Marshall resides.
What makes the greatest boxer ever: the ability to go into enemy territory with a spotless record and take on the best at their peak. But for Shields, it’s just another chance to do it again, with the best fish and chips in the world only meters away.
