Unified junior middleweight champion Natasha Jonas is among the many fighters looking forward to Saturday’s big middleweight unification between career rivals Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall.
Ten years ago, when they were amateurs, Marshall scored a decision win over Shields.
That was the last and only time Shields tasted defeat in a boxing ring.
Since that contest, Shields has captured gold at two Olympic Games and secured world titles in three weight classes.
Considered one of the biggest punchers in women’s boxing, Marshall relies on her power to close out the show before the scorecards.
“Claressa has a chance to right the one mistake that has tainted her boxing record, while Savannah has a chance to set it straight. This is a genuine 50/50 fight, one that boxing fans are always crying out for, and it’s a rivalry that isn’t forced or fabricated. They don’t really like each other,” Jonas said.
“The general sentiment is that Claressa will win on points or Savannah will win by knockout, and I agree with that. Savannah can box, make no mistake. She’s a great technical fighter. But if they push her to make a prediction, I think that Claressa will be winning at cards when Savannah lands and wins by stoppage, she has that one-punch power that is just devastating.
“In 20 minutes, with 10 two-minute rounds, she’ll definitely land a shot. Claressa may be elusive for a while, but not for the entire fight. People think she’s invincible, however Hanna Gabriels knocked her down in their sixth fight She has the potential to be hurt.
“A loss would damage Claressa’s ego rather than her reputation in boxing. She calls herself the greatest woman of all time and believes 100% that she is the GWOAT. As a nation, we Brits really don’t like that.” We like to be humble. We had it with Prince Naseem Hamed, I’d say more people went to see him lose than win. We didn’t like it when Floyd Mayweather did it. And it’s the same with Claressa.”
