Claressa Shields believes Savannah Marshall has not yet regained her confidence after their fight and it is too soon for her to fight Franchon Crews-Dezurn.
Marshall lost a unanimous decision after her thrilling clash with US star Shields last October.
The Briton has now set her next fight. She will step up to super-middleweight to challenge Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed 168lb title on June 17, live on the Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr Sky Sports Box Office bill.
- Savannah Marshall: I fought the best Claressa Shields we’ve all ever seen
- Chris Eubank Jr feeling ‘the pressure’ after fiery Gloves Are Off
- Liam Smith: Chris Eubank Jr was petrified of getting hit
Shields’ rivalry with Marshall is undimmed, even after their fight.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Franchon Crews-Dezurn insists Savannah Marshall is a ‘pit stop’ in her career
“I can see from the beating I gave Savannah Marshall, she’s not as confident as she used to be. I think that this fight is too soon for her,” Shields told Sky Sports.
Trending
- Qataris make final world-record £5bn Man Utd bid, INEOS offer also in
- Papers: Brighton preparing move for out-of-contract Milner
- Transfer Centre: Kane considering running down Spurs contract
- PL Predictions: Wins for West Ham, Brentford & Brighton
- Hamilton pleased by ‘sweet lap’ | Russell rues mistake after Q2 exit
- Explained: Why Norris, Tsunoda could miss Baku Sprint qualifying finale
- How new F1 Sprint format will work in 2023
- Shields: I’ll whoop Marshall again… after Crews-Dezurn beats her!
- Sprint Shootout: F1 confirms dramatic new format from this weekend
- Garnacho signs new five-year Man Utd contract
- Video
- Latest News
“She hasn’t recovered [her confidence] yet from her last fight.”
Shields did watch the Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall press conference this week. The American believes she saw uncertainty in Marshall.
Also See:
“I didn’t see her say that she’s going to knock Franchon out. I just seen ‘Oh, I believe I can beat Franchon.’ It’s like you believe or are you going to do it? She was saying she’s going to knock me out in two rounds or she’s going to knock me out,” Shields reflected.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Undisputed champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn sent a strong message to challenger Savannah Marshall
“I think her confidence right now is not there and that’s dangerous to not have confidence and to be getting in the ring with someone like Franchon, who believes in herself 1000 percent.
“I’m going to be cheering for Franchon to beat Savannah Marshall. I think that Franchon will come out victorious.”
Marshall is looking for a rematch with Shields. If she beat Crews-Dezurn and became undisputed super-middleweight champion, she would be in a great position to push for that fight.
“Is that the gameplan?” Shields scoffed. “I would say this. If that’s what her gameplan is and I’m motivation for her to have this fight and she thinks she’ll become undisputed and then it’ll be undisputed vs undisputed, tell her all that is fine.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Savannah Marshall admits her defeat to Claressa Shields was ‘hard to take’, but is determined to come back stronger in his next fight against Franchon Crews-Dezurn
“But we’re going to fight in America and I’m going to beat her again, even worse. That’s my message to her.
“Tell her keep on thinking about me, I’ll keep on being her motivation like I’ve been all these years. But I did what I was supposed to do.
“She didn’t knock me down. She didn’t knock me out,” Shields continued. “She got dominated, she lost the first five rounds and I would love to do it again. I’m not turning down any smoke with Savannah Marshall.
“If she loses this fight to Franchon, which I think she will, she can still come get the smoke and try and fight me again for my undisputed [middleweight] championship. And I’ll whoop her again. So I’m not turning down any smoke with Savannah Marshall.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch the Story of Shields v Marshall
“And Savannah needs to focus on what’s in front of her because me and Franchon are two completely different fighters.”
Shields finished with a warning: “The moment she gets back in the ring with me again, I’ve already taken off to a whole other level, and I’m going to beat her up. Pretty bad.”
Sourse: skysports.com
