Marshall is very good, and she might be able to beat shields, but i gotta go with shields here. I think its a great fight and probably the biggest fight in womans boxing, behind Serrano-Taylor IMO.
I've watch all of Marshall fights since she turned pro and I have to say, she has a stalking style, places her punches well. In 11 fights, Marshall has stopped 9 fighters and the two fighters she didn't stop, she dropped. The two fighters with winning records on her resume, she dropped one of them and stopped the other. Is she ready for Shields? who knows, that why they fight the fights...Shields defense is excellent, however i think Marshall can stop Shields before Shields stops Marshall. The two undefeated 168 lbers Cederroos and Marshall, both 5'11, will be the first two fighters that Shields fights that will actually punch back.
Savannah stops Claressa. It really is that simple. Hits too hard and she WILL seek and destroy. I can however see a trilogy of fights. ££££ $$$$
I wasn't one of those people I picked Shields to beat Hammer. But I'm now picking Marshall to beat Shields, though I wouldn't say it's a confident pick as neither have fought anyone as remotely good as the other as a pro. Shields, speed and head movement was key vs Hammer, she slipped Hammer's jab and countered, got inside and exposed Hammer's lack of an inside game. Once she took away her height and reach she had nothing and Shields dominated. Marshall fights nothing like Hammer. Yeah she's very tall like Hammer even taller I think, but Hammer had no head and upper body movement, with her it's all foot work. Marshall plants her feet more which is why she creates so much more power and uses head and upper body movement, constantly changing range, looking to draw leads to counter. Shields slipping the jab won't mean much vs Marshall because Marshall is looking for that counter to her jab as she herself is looking to counter the counter. Marshall also has shown she can fight inside, calmly evading punches and landing hard hooks, uppercuts and body shots like in the Muzeya fight. I think what worked vs Hammer won't work vs Marshall. Shields is a highly skilled fighter though if anyone can beat Marshall it's Shields. But I think she'll need to put on a master class to do so and I honestly am struggling to find a strategy for her to win. Marshall might struggle with movement as she does plant her feet, but then she has such an advantage in height and reach so out boxing her from range will be difficult and going on the inside and roughing her up comes at a price and Sheilds doesn't have the power to hurt Marshall but Marshall can definitely hurt her. But we'll see I guess as both sides saying the fight is happening this year. Whoever wins, I'm like you just happy we get to see such a quality match up a real rarity in women's boxing.
I am convinced that Shields will triumph. I also detect a lack of belief in Marshall deep down who needs to be pumped up a lot.
What is unorthodox about Marshall’s style? Also as you rightly say Shields is the best opponent Marshall would have faced by miles as well as the most skilled, durable and rugged with championship know how. There is a reason why Shields is a double Olympics Gold medalist and Marshall is not. I don’t think people realise what taking Marshall’s scalp means to Shields! She is not just going to win she fully intends to make a definitive statement of her superiority.
If Marshall lacked belief I don't think she would of chased this fight so hard, she's been calling Shields out for a long time. Shields herself obviously doesn't lack confidence or self belief and with her achievements it's understandable. She's far more vocal far more brash and arrogant but that doesn't mean she's more confident that Marshall, that's just a difference in personalities, Shields is an extrovert while Marshall is an introvert. What I would question is her ability to perform under pressure. After winning the world champs she was favourite for London 2012 and went out it the first round I think. While that was a long time ago I wonder what will happen when the pressure and expectation is on again, will she choke again or will she rise to the occasion like Shields has done time and again.
Savannah Marshall whooped Shields in the amateurs and will beat her ass again the pros. That manly looking, ugly, mouthy, featherfisted hoodrat don't want no smoke with Savannah Marshall.
One of those no-hopers was Shields in the amateurs and Shields has never knocked out a decent fighter.
While their respective performances against Hannah Rankin prove nothing about how they would fare against each other, the following were apparent to me. (Granted both probably won every round against Rankin). 1. While Rankin was clearly outboxed and outpunched by Shields, she was still undeterred and fighting back through to the last round whereas after 5 or 6 rounds of taking Marshall's punches, she was thoroughly demoralized and pretty much beaten up. 2. Rankin was able to land cleanly on Shields from time to time throughout the fight whereas after a few rounds against Marshall she could hardly land a glove on her. Marshall's defensive skills looked better than Shield's as far as the Rankin test showed. I found Marshall's defensive wizardry very impressive. And if Rankin could land regularly on Shields I imagine so could Marshall. Many comment on YT that Marshall looks much slower than Shields and that will be decisive when they meet. Maybe so. It's clear that Shields throws flurries of rather soft arm punches while Marshall takes her time to plans her feet and throw fewer but much heavier punches. Marshall has shown herself fast enough to largely evade or take the sting out of her opponent's punches and to land her own telling blows- that's really all the speed you need. In interviews Marshall seems quietly confident and amused rather than intimidated by Shield's braggadocio. Whereas Shields seems a bit obsessed with Marshall, constantly looking for re-assurance (as in the meeting with Mike Tyson) that she is levels above Marshall. She has to be at least slightly uncomfortable about the demonstrated gulf in power. And, as I wrote in another post-both Marshall and Shields spar with male boxers. Marshall has said that she is fully aware they are holding back their full power, Shields on the other hand from her words seems to think she's taking the full power of some top males. Does she really believe that (in which case she's delusional) or is it just playful banter? If she truly believes this then you can see why she might think she could beat some decent male boxers and also that Marshall's power can't be more than what she's faced in sparring and is nothing to be concerned about. And Marshall's shots only look heavy because of weak opponents. If so I think she's in for a rude awakening.
Sorry Mark my man. I love you but Shields has never been a no hoper. Marshall must fall. We won’t be satisfied with just a normal victory.
