Saturday evening at the O2 Arena in London sees a night of history, as an all-female card is put on by BOXXER. The main event looks a cracker, as old rivals Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall finally meet.
Shields puts her WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight titles on the line, while Marshall brings the WBO belt in an undisputed title clash broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, while ESPN+ have the US rights.
The pair were set to meet last month but the whole card was postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but thankfully it has been rescheduled within weeks.
Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) and Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) are no strangers to each other, and the latter had the better of their original argument in the unpaid code.
Shields went on to capture gold in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, while Marshall won Commonwealth gold in 2014.
Hartlepool’s Marshall turned professional in 2017, and is currently on an eight-fight knockout streak.
The ‘Silent Assassin’ won the vacant WBO belt in October 2020, stopping Hannah Rankin in seven rounds, and hasn’t needed to go past three rounds since.
The 31-year-old was last out in April, hammering Femke Hermans in three rounds, a fighter that took Shields went the ten round distance with in 2018.
The undefeated American has captured world titles in three weight classes, and has been undisputed champion at both super welterweight and middleweight.
The Michigan native has often been criticised for her safety first, point scoring approach, but it has served her well thus far.
Her last contest was in February, winning every round against Ema Kozin in Cardiff.
Prediction: Although Shields has been pretty flawless as a pro, she has not been put under anything like the pressure that Marshall will bring to the table. Sometimes fighters just have each others’ numbers, and I lean towards Marshall to take a close win on the cards with her will to win too much to ignore for the judges.
Mayer-Baumgardner meet in unification
Another match-up with multiple world titles on offer takes place at super featherweight, as Mikaela Mayer (17-0, 5 KOs) puts her IBF and WBO belts on the line against WBC and IBO queen, Alicia Baumgardner (12-1, 7 KOs).
Mayer became WBO champion in October 2020 with a points win over Ewa Brodnicka.
She defended once before adding the IBF strap with a win on the cards against Maiva Hamadouche, and was last seen in April, winning every round against Jennifer Han.
Baumgardner came to prominence last November when she spectacularly relieved Terri Harper of the WBC and IBO crowns, with a stunning one-punch stoppage win in the fourth round in Sheffield.
The 28-year-old has defended once, winning every round against Edith Soledad Matthysse in April.
Prediction: Mayer looks a serious talent that could well go through the weights, and I can’t see Baumgardner derailing her progress here. I think Mayer should come through widely on the scorecards.
Price, Artingstall, Dubois feature
There are plenty of Olympians in action on the card. 2020 gold medallist, Lauren Price (1-0) should come through on the cards after six at welterweight against Timea Belik (6-6, 2 KOs), and her partner and Tokyo bronze Medallist Karriss Artingstall (1-0) should do the same at featherweight against Marina Sakharov (5-16-2, 3 KOs).
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Caroline Dubois (3-0, 2 KOs) has her fourth fight of 2022, and she can score a stoppage win before the end of her six rounder at lightweight against Milena Koleva (10-14-1, 4 KOs).
Remaining Undercard
Also in six rounders, Ebonie Jones (2-0-1) can remain unbeaten with a points win against Vanesa Caballero (4-15-3) at featherweight, and at flyweight, 2020 US Olympian, Ginny Fuchs (1-0, 1 KO) should outscore Gemma Ruegg (5-4, 1 KO).
Super welterweight April Hunter (5-1) should bank a points win over Erica Juana Gabriela Alvarez (3-6), and Germany’s Sarah Liegmann (4-0, 1 KO) can halt the always brave Bec Connolly (3-15) at super bantamweight.
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Shannon Ryan (2-0) can stay unbeaten with a points win over Buchra El Quaissi (3-2-3, 1 KO).
