Savannah Marshall Knocks Femke Hermans Out Cold, Looks To Fight Claressa Shields Next
Savannah Marshall scored the biggest knockout of her career, which is likely to set up for one of the biggest fights of her career.
Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) stopped Femke Hermans (12-4, 5 KOs) with a left hook to the head in just the third round of their scheduled 10-round fight for Marshall’s WBO world female middleweight title. The punch left Hermans laid out on the canvas; referee Howard Foster immediately waved off the bout.
Immediately after Marshall sealed the win, she approached and stared down WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring female middleweight champion Claressa Shields, who Marshall is expecting – and pushing – to fight next.
HUGE ONE PUNCH KO 💥@Savmarshall1 delivered and then immediately stared down Claressa Shields at ringside. (via @Boxxer)
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) April 2, 2022
“There is no one else between me and Clarissa so it is me and Clarissa in the summer now,” Marshall said via Boxing Scene.
“I know Clarissa can’t handle my power. I know when I face Clarissa it will be a good night. I believe I severely hurt Clarissa.”
Marshall was getting a feel for her opponent in the opening round. She didn’t begin to take action until the second round where her jabs forced Hermans to play more on the defensive side.
In the third round, the action heated up as Marshall landed more blows and Hermans fired back. But Marshall seemed to have more of an impact when a hard left sent Hermans back into the ropes.
Marshall threw a right hand that missed, but followed up with a left hook that flattened her Belgian opponent. Foster instantly waved off the fight.
Marshall said she didn’t expect that knockout to happen.
“That is what you are supposed to do, I said she would do that with Femke,” Shields said.
Marshall handed Shields her sole loss in boxing in 2012 in an amateur bout. Both fighters are signed with BOXXER.
Boxing Scene reported Shields signed with the organization for a multi-fight agreement with understanding that Marshall would be the second bout as part of that contract.
“I’m not Femke Hermans, I’m not Hannah Rankin, I’m not any of those girls she fought against,” Shields added on Saturday.
“As much punch power as she has got, if that’s what I have got to look forward to, it’s going to be a wipe-out.”