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A rematch with Savannah Marshall won’t be next for Claressa Shields, but Shields’ promoter expects them to fight again within the next year-and-a-half.
Dmitriy Salita informed BoxingScene.com that the preliminary plan for Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) is to have her face other opponents in Detroit, somewhere in Africa and/or somewhere in the Middle East before the Flint, Michigan native moves toward a rematch with Marshall. Salita also expressed Shields’ preference to box Marshall (12-1, 10 KOs) in Shields’ home country if the middleweight rivals square off a second time.
“We’d love to do a rematch in the United States,” Salita said. “Claressa went over there and paid her dues. We love the British boxing fans and they love Claressa. I think she’s gonna keep growing and growing as a true world champion. She’s making her way around the world, but I think the rematch would be significant. A rematch with Savannah Marshall, in the United States, should happen within the next 12 to 18 months.”
The 27-year-old Shields defeated Marshall by unanimous decision in their 10-round, 160-pound women’s middleweight title fight October 15 at a sold-out O2 Arena in London. Boxing’s popularity in the United Kingdom and the accompanying payday encouraged Shields to travel to Marshall’s home country for an opportunity to avenge the three-division champion’s only boxing loss as an amateur or pro.
Though Shields’ preference would be to face Marshall a second time in the United States, the two-time Olympic gold medalist might consider facing Marshall in England again.
“We have to do what’s best for the fighter, which doesn’t always include money,” Salita said. “Many times it is money, but it doesn’t always include money, because Claressa really wants to break through and make history. But we received a great welcome from fans in England, from Sky [Sports], from [Sky Sports’] Adam Smith. We loved dealing with them and we loved the boxing fans.
“I was with Claressa, walking the streets, and people would stop her almost every minute, asking her for autographs and showing support. And some said, ‘Savannah’s gonna kick your ass.’ Some said, ‘We love you.’ But there was real emotion and passion, which is incredible, that everyday people know who she is. And not only know who she is, but know what she’s doing and are attached to her story.”
Despite that she fought Marshall, of Hartlepool, England, in her rival’s home country, all three judges scored their competitive clash for Shields.
Italy’s Luigi Boscarelli and Connecticut’s Frank Lombardi each credited Shields for winning seven rounds, 97-93 apiece. England’s Steve Gray scored six rounds for Shields, who won 96-94 on his card.
“Savannah Marshall is a very good fighter,” Salita said. “She came to fight and she had the support of the crowd, and the comfort of fighting in her own backyard. Leading up to the fight, she was relaxed and she came to fight. For real greatness to be shown, you need a rivalry, you need someone to bring it out. Savannah Marshall certainly brought it out of Claressa.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.