Claressa Shields Wants Savannah Marshall Fans To Hate Her After Fight

IBF, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Claressa Shields says that she has no problem in playing the villain role in her anticipated fixture against WBO champion Savannah Marshall.

“Whoever supports Savannah Marshall, I want them to hate me after this fight. I’m fighting against all of them,” Shields, 28, told BBC Sport.

The duo will lock horns on September 10 at the O2 Arena in London. Both have fought against each other in the amateurs, when Shields lost to Marshall.

Until now, that outcome is the only dent in the resume of the 27-year-old.

“When I turned professional, people close to me told me my aspirations were too big. Fighting at the T Mobile arena, making a million dollars, fighting on TV, was too big. Everything I said about myself and the future of women’s boxing, I was right,” Shields said.

“Savannah isn’t ready for this media attention. She’s been saying my name over and over again. First she said she would knock me out. Now she’s going to outbox me. Which one is it? She’s getting smarter and realizing this fight won’t be as easy as she thought. Now she’s in with an elite fighter. I plan on hurting her and I plan on surprising her.”