MARSHALL MAKES HISTORY

In the Manchester arena, in front of a partisan crowd. Savannah Marshall delivered a comprehensive boxing performance to outpoint Franchon Crews-Dezurn to become the undisputed super middleweight champion.

In taking home the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and ring magazine belts, she has now become a two-weight world champion.

However, no sooner did she lift the belts; did her attentions turn to the only woman to beat her professionally, the self-proclaimed “GWOAT” Claressa Shields. To set up a possible mouth-watering and blockbuster rubber match.

Although moving up a weight, I never felt Crews-Dezurn had the necessary boxing skills to beat Marshall.

Physically, Crews-Dezurn possessed the attributes to trouble and test her but skill-wise, provided Marshall stuck to her “stick and move” game plan, perfected in the Fury camp, I felt it would be comfortable for Marshall.

With that said, Marshall did have to bite down on her gumshield and tough it out with the American, who was game, and we all knew would come to fight.

Crews-Dezurn is known for not taking many backsteps, something she proved when she became the undisputed super middleweight champion. with an inspiring performance against the previously undefeated Swede Elin Cederroos.

However, Marshall is on a different level, which is a given to beat Crews-Dezurn, whose only other defeat was in her first professional bout with Claressa Shields.

I felt Marshall was relatively comfortable throughout the fight, and her boxing ability was the difference.

Crews-Dezurn tried to make it ugly and draw Marshall into a brawl, but Marshall did well to stay composed in the clinch and keep her at the end of her straight jab.

When Crews-Dezurn got too close, she would get clipped with a left hook. That was the main pattern throughout the fight. Crews-Dezurn was all effort but did not have the boxing ability to significantly trouble Marshall, who, to her credit, boxed superbly.

Standing at ringside, in full support of her American compatriot, was Claressa Shields. She was full of energy in support of Crews-Dezurn, and you could hear her shouting instructions and words of encouragement for Crews-Dezurn throughout.

However, as soon as Marshall’s hands were raised, the gwoat’s focus shifted.

Although Marshall’s win over Shields came in the amateurs when Shields was only 17, a win is a win, and Marshall will not let Shields forget it.

That’s the reason Shields was so jubilant to avenge that loss last October while becoming the undisputed middleweight champion.

But the animosity and tensions are far from settled, and it felt even after Shield’s win in October, a rubber match was inevitable. Shields showed exactly why she is recognised as the no1 pound for pound women’s fighter in that October win, as she boxed almost flawlessly.

However, if there was one criticism, it’s she does not possess that one-punch knockout power that gets fans off their feet. In comparison, that one-punch knockout is something Marshall has, and showed throughout her career, with 10 knockouts from her 13 wins.

Now up at a heavier weight, Marshall might even be more of a threat with the extra weight. Although she did not stop Crews-Dezurn, she certainly rocked her on several occasions.

Some may argue that at the heavier weight, Shields may be stronger, with more power. But her records do not suggest knockout ability. I have no doubt Shield’s win in October taught Marshall a few lessons, and obviously, she will have to improve.

But has Marshall learnt from that defeat? And does she have something up her sleeve, especially at a heavier weight?

Or is Shields just too good, and exactly what she says she is? With the animosity already at a fever pitch, the tensions will be even higher than in the first fight.

Both will go into it with their own confidence for differing reasons, and even after Shields’ win last October, up at super middleweight, this could be an even more explosive and closer battle.

With that extra power, could Marshall do the unthinkable and catch Shields? Or will that extra weight help Shields overcome anything Marshall has to offer? It will be intriguing, to say the least. Well, providing the fight happens. We can only hope.