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Claressa Shields is the undisputed middleweight champion after picking up a unanimous decision win over long-time rival Savannah Marshall in one of the best fights of 2022.
The pair met at London’s O2 Arena for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO middleweight world titles, five weeks after their original fight was postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
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That meant Shields had to wait a little longer to avenge the only defeat she’s ever suffered in professional or amateur boxing.
Marshall famously beat Shields 10 years ago before the American went on to win two Olympic gold medals and become one of the most dominant professional boxers on the planet.
The fight quickly burst into action in round one. Shields got off to a great start and scored big with a flurry of punches that went unanswered by her opponent who seemed intent on just getting out of the way of as many as she could.
Marshall landed one of her patented power shots in round two, but Shields was able to avoid taking any more punishment and continued to look good throughout the second stanza with the quick combinations that continued to catch the eye in the third frame.
The pattern of the fight became clear in round four as Shields landed with volume and Marshall had success with the pop shots in a scrap that was being fought at a frenetic pace.
You’d be forgiven for thinking these two women were about to slow down but they somehow managed to pick up the pace as they bit down on their gumshields and began swinging wildly in round six.
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LAWRENCE LUSTIG/BOXXER
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In the final few rounds, Shields and Marshall started to look fatigued but their output never waned. Both fighters kept swinging until the final bell of what proved to be one of the best fighters 2022 has had to offer.
Ultimately, the ‘GWOAT’ improved her record to 13-0 after impressing all three judges who scored the bout 96-94, 97-93 and 97-93 in her favour.
“I did what I do in training, and I got the job done. I want to thank Savannah Marshall – it was a special night for women’s boxing, and I think it was fight of the year,” Shields said post-fight.
“[Savannah] is a tough competitor, hard fighter and has endurance but I am the better fighter. I feel like I am 2-0 against her as I don’t think I lost in the amateurs, but you can say we are 1-1. I know I did the most work today.”
After the fight, talk immediately turned to a trilogy bout tiebreaker but Shields is expected to return to MMA for her next fight after previously going 1-1 in the sport in the Professional Fighters League.
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