Trainer Peter Fury has been offered a lot of praise for the job he’s done with Savannah Marshall, but he doesn’t want the credit.
Before Marshall’s big grudge match with Claressa Shields, Fury says that Marshall’s progress is due to the fighter and her coming of age in the pro ranks.
“I just think it’s developed,” Fury said. “She’s had a lot of experience in the ring, she’s been to big events, she’s a world champion, all of these things are factors. She has the right mindset, the right maturity now to understand that as events get bigger and bigger, it’s just another day. She has to focus on the fight and she has one thing on her mind and that is Saturday night. The hype around that and everything else, she’s just enjoying the moment and she’s excited. The main thing is that she expects a tough, exhausting, tough fight, and that is what she is trained for.”
Fury and Marshall arrived in London on Tuesday night ahead of public training and fight week activities and Peter believes Marshall deserves respect for the growth of women’s boxing in the UK and for her part in bringing a great night. to the O2 Arena.
“I think it’s a testament to Savannah,” Fury added. “She has arrived and has been a little more than five years as a professional and this is her moment. She is more ready than ever and she is looking forward to this fight.”
All sport is too. He has captured the imagination, with people excited by the clash of styles, thinking Shields is the better fighter and Marshall the better hitter. But when asked what kind of fight he’s anticipating, Fury gave insight into the mindset he instilled in his fighter.
“I always expect the worst case scenario, it’s going to be a tough two-minute fight every round, she has to dig in,” Fury said. “She [Savannah]She’s had a brutal training camp, so she’s ready for whatever comes next. It’s going to be very interesting and it’s definitely going to be very close.”
Shields has been talking, and while Fury thinks Shields might not be as good as he thinks he is, he rates the USA star highly.
“I rate her as a good world champion, she has achieved good things and it’s good to have that self-confidence,” Peter continued. “But sometimes you can be too trusting and on Saturday night we’ll see how good she really is.”
Much has been made of Marshall’s disputed amateur victory over Shields more than a decade ago, but Peter doesn’t think that will play any role on Saturday.
“I don’t think it’s relevant,” the coach continued. “The only reason it would be relevant is if it plays into Claressa’s mind too much, that has an effect, but other than that, it’s really nothing. They are two different people and Savannah is a machine compared to what she was when she was an amateur. She is a different world.”
It’s a big night for boxing and neither woman would have experienced anything like this before. Fury states that Marshall can and will take it all in his stride.
“It’s not going to make it to Savannah,” Fury insisted. “That is not a thought in my mind. I know where Savannah is and she only has one thing on her mind and that is a tough fight. She is in the wound business and sees Claressa on her way. The only way for Savannah to be defeated is by the best person, she will have nothing to do with the occasion, the night or anything else. Savannah is ready and confident, she has that steely mindset where she knows she’s going to get what she wants.”
Popular assessments and predictions are that Shields will win if he gets to the points, but if there is a stoppage, Marshall could get it. Fury doesn’t see things so clearly, though he understands why many think that way.
“I can see why people are coming to some conclusion, it’s a good fight and that’s why it captured the public’s imagination because it’s not a gimmick fight.” “It’s a proper world-class fight, it could go either way and it just depends on who has more on the night, who wants it more and that’s it. We will see many things there. They have their plans and we have ours and ultimately it’s up to the two of them when the bell rings.”
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