Claressa Shields Becomes Undisputed Middleweight Champion, Defeats Savannah Marshall

Claressa Shields has done it again.

Shields got her revenge and defeated Savannah Marshall by unanimous decision Saturday night in the O2 Arena. She now holds all four middleweight titles for the second time in her career.

“It’s not just a special moment for me, it’s a special moment for women’s boxing,” Shields said in a post-fight interview.

“Savannah Marshall, Alycia Baumgardner, Mikaela Mayer, Caroline Dubois. I mean, women’s boxing has been around for so many years and so many great stuff happened before us.

“But here we are, in front of 20,000 fans in London at O2 Arena, and I think that’s fight of the year. I’m just so happy and it’s an unbelievable moment right now.”

Shields came out aggressive in the beginning of the bout and stuck with her technical defense to hold off Marshall’s power.

The American landed more punches than Marshall in seven of the 10 rounds and landed significantly more power punches. Marshall was able to get more in the rhythm by landing more power punches in the fifth round.

Marshall seemed to be coming back when he shut Shields’ right eye, which affected her in the final five rounds. But Shields was still able to work on the inside and counter any of her opponent’s punches.

There is a rematch clause in the contract – if there was a controversial decision, Shields said. She, however, didn’t knock down another fight with Marshall in the U.S. if the fans wanted it.

“Claressa is a brilliant fighter,” Marshall said in a post-fight interview.

“She definitely is. She’s not as fast as I thought she was but she’s a brilliant fighter and she’s definitely earned the title of greatest woman of all time.”

The fight headlined an all-women card. It also featured the junior lightweight unification fight between IBF and WBO champion Mikaela Mayer and WBC titlist Alycia Baumgardner in the co-main event. Baumgardner won by split decision for the three belts.