it was another successful title defense for the unified female middleweight champion Claressa Shields last weekend when she defended her WBA, WBC, and IBF belts following a one-sided 10-round unanimous decision victory against Ema Kozin, as well as won the WBF belt in the process. However, WBO middleweight champion Savannah Marshall, who is in the works for a grudge fight against Shields this coming summer believes that her rival underperformed against Kozin.
Savannah Marshall says Claressa Shields can’t call herself “greatest” and go 10 rounds with “somebody fresh out the womb”
Savannah Marshall, who will be seen in action on 12th March against Femke Hermans, was present ringside at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales on 5th February when Claressa Shields defeated Ema Kozin.
While the gold medallist Olympian has remained undefeated as a professional, the only time Shields suffered a loss inside the ring was during her days as an amateur and it was against Marshall herself, who believes that Shields calling herself the ‘GWOAT’ doesn’t work while going 10 rounds against someone like Kozin.
“You can’t come over, burn everyone’s skull out all week calling yourself the greatest, slander me in interviews and on Twitter and then when it comes to it give me a fist-pump after performing like that,” Marshall said in an interview with Sky Sports, “Somebody had to tell her, she really underperformed. You can’t call yourself the greatest and then go 10 rounds with somebody who is fresh out the womb.
“Taking nothing away from Ema, she’s a tough girl and I’m sure in time she’ll mature and she’ll come back stronger. But from rounds seven to 10 Ema didn’t throw a punch and the best thing about it is she stood in front of Claressa and she subjected all them people in Cardiff to 10 rounds of a bore-fest.”
“It’s the last thing you want after you retained your titles, somebody saying you’re an embarrassment so I definitely spoilt her night,” Marshall added. [H/T Boxingscene.com]
Highlights:
- WBO middleweight champion Savannah Marshall says Claressa Shields underperformed against Ema Kozin
- Shields defended her WBA, WBC, and IBF belts via 10-round unanimous decision victory against Kozin
