There were numerous heated verbal exchanges between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields at today’s official pre-fight press conference in London as the two squared off in a packed room ahead of the highly anticipated contest for the Undisputed World Middleweight Championship. of this weekend.
Lead co-combatants Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner struck a surprisingly respectful tone, contrasting the insults they’ve been trading on social media and in person in the build-up to their contest on Saturday. However, the pair couldn’t resist exchanging heatedly during their confrontation.
Ben Shalom, CEO and founder of BOXXER: “It has been 10 years for these two athletes. We worked hard to make this fight because we thought it was something really special. These two are not only fulfilling their own dreams on Saturday night, they are fulfilling the dreams of women’s boxing.
To have just women’s boxing filling the O2 on Saturday night is a phenomenal achievement. Women’s boxing wasn’t like that when these two turned pro, you wouldn’t have been able to have an event like this.”
On Mayer vs. Baumgardner: “Alycia clearly thinks this is her moment, Mikaela thinks this will be hers. That makes this an absolutely phenomenal fight with phenomenal talent and a phenomenal rivalry. This could have headlined any event and I’m delighted it’s happening at The O2 on Saturday night.”
Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development for Sky Sports: “This is a fantastic night, not just for women’s boxing, but for the sport in general. Two undefeated and highly talented world champions in Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall who go head to head for the undisputed championship. This fight, this rivalry will go down in history, regardless of the outcome on Saturday night.
“Women’s boxing has come a long way in recent years, and right now there is a lot of talent in the UK and also in the US. There is a chance to have as many great boxing nights like this from now on.
Bob Arum, Hall of Fame Promoter: “People years from now will be talking about this event in boxing history. Two great world title fights and highly talented women on the entire card. This event will go down in boxing history.”
WBC, IBF and WBA middleweight champion Claressa Shields: “When I win on Saturday night, it will be a big win. This is not my first time in a fight for the undisputed championship, this is not the first time I have had a tough training camp, and it is not the first time I am the underdog. I can’t wait for the opportunity to silence the doubters of Savannah’s supposed knockout power.
“I have never seen someone live off an amateur win for 10 years of their career. I have dominated this sport for 10 years. I won the Olympics, then I won them again. Then I turned pro and won world titles in my fourth fight.
“Champions are not made, they are born. And I was born to do this.”
WBO Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall: “I’ve always respected Claressa, but she doesn’t like me to have an opinion. I saw her box and I thought it was a devilish performance. She told people that she was going to get a spectacular knockout, and I watched it for 10 rounds, fell asleep and told her how I felt about it.
“I have never said that I am going to knock her out, I have said that I am going to hurt her. She’s a bully and she’s going to wake up on the mat. I can’t wait to take all those belts off her and become the undisputed middleweight champion.”
WBO and IBF Super Featherweight Champion Mikaela Mayer: “I’ve worked really hard to get to this point in my career, so there’s no way I’m going to stop now. It’s going to be as hard to stay in the position I’m in as it was to get here. I’ve gone back and forth with Alycia in the past, but I respect her enough to know that she’s going to put a lot of pressure on me on Saturday night.
“At this stage of my career I can fight in many ways. If this has to be a dogfight, I’ll win a dogfight. If it has to be a boxing match, I’ll win a boxing match. I can beat her any way the fight goes. I’ll take her into deep water, I’ll take her to places she’s never been before.”
WBC Super Featherweight Champion Alycia Baumgardner: “This is going to be a historic night on September 10 and I can’t wait to be a part of it.
“I am ready for Saturday and I have been preparing for this moment for a long time. I am at the top of my game and have been boxing for 20 years for this fight. This Saturday will really mark my place in this sport, who I am as an athlete. I was born for this, I did for this, and this is my moment.
Lauren Price, Olympic gold medalist: “I feel proud and privileged to be on this phenomenal card. I’m planning on taking my time in the pro ranks, after all my amateur success. I just want to look elegant at every performance and take a step forward every time.”
Caroline Dubois: “Having been to The O2 this week, and seeing the atmosphere that has been created during fight week, it shows me the size of this occasion. Now I can’t wait to get in the ring in a bigger venue than ever before and put on a great performance.
“Women’s boxing moves so fast that before you know it in your career, you’re fighting former world champions and world title contenders, but I’m ready to deliver on Saturday night.”
Olympic bronze medalist, Karriss Artingstall: “I look forward to showing off the things I’ve been working on in camp on Saturday night. I need to start my knockout reel very soon so hopefully I can start and get the stoppage in this fight.
“I want to move forward as fast as my performances allow me to, if I am winning in style, I will continue to make big strides in every fight. The talent across the card is absolutely incredible, the main event and co-main event could headline any card, and I feel so blessed to be a part of that.”
Georgia O’Connor: “This is a huge event for our sport and I can’t believe I can be a part of it, but I have to focus on my own fight and get the win to progress my career.”
Ebonie Jones: “I feel better than ever and am really looking forward to taking another step in my career on Saturday night at such a big event. But for me it’s about getting another win.”
April Hunter: “I am proud to represent the Northeast at this event, as is Savannah. I’ve already had one setback in my career, and that’s just motivating to give it my all in all my fights, including Saturday night.”
Shannon Ryan: “I can’t wait for Saturday night. Performing on this stage so early in my professional career is incredible, but I’m looking to make a statement. My style is much more suited to the professional game than the amateurs, so I’m ready to go.”
