Savannah Marshall, the British boxer known for her quiet intensity and concussive power, is stepping back into the ring. But this isn`t just another fight; Marshall herself has framed it as the opening act of a definitive “farewell tour.” With a clear, self-imposed deadline looming, the former undisputed champion is on a focused mission to tick off specific career boxes before potentially hanging up the gloves for good.
Her return bout sees her challenging America`s WBO champion Shadasia Green in a super-middleweight unification showdown scheduled for Friday night in New York`s historic Madison Square Garden. The fight is part of a high-profile, all-female card promoted by Jake Paul`s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a platform Marshall has recently joined after a period of inactivity and change.
The past two years have been turbulent for Marshall. After defeating Franchon Crews-Dezurn in July 2023 to become the undisputed super-middleweight queen, injury struck. A brief, successful detour into mixed martial arts followed, but her boxing career stalled. Sanctioning body demands led to her relinquishing three of her four championship belts, and a split with her previous promoter, Boxxer, added another layer of complexity. The “Silent Assassin” was, perhaps ironically, silent for a considerable time.
Now, with a new multi-fight deal under the MVP banner, Marshall is eager to make up for lost time. Her goals are straightforward, albeit ambitious. “I`m here to get my belts back and avenge my defeat to Claressa Shields – that`s if she`ll ever fight me,” she states with a directness that mirrors her ring style. She openly admits to being a fighter in a hurry, targeting retirement within the next year. At 34, after 23 years in the sport since first walking into a gym, she acknowledges the clock is ticking, and avoiding irrelevance after a two-year layoff is a key motivator.
Marshall credits her new promoter, Jake Paul, for providing the necessary focus on women`s boxing, contrasting it with what she perceives as a UK promotional landscape heavily fixated on the heavyweight division, particularly since the influx of Saudi money into the sport. She highlights the unprecedented nature of the upcoming MVP card, featuring multiple world championship fights on a major streaming platform, as a testament to Paul`s commitment.
The first hurdle on this concentrated path is Shadasia Green. With a professional record of 15-1 (11 KOs) compared to Marshall`s 13-1 (10 KOs), Green presents a legitimate challenge. She is a reigning champion, having claimed the vacant WBO title last November, and is known for her power. While Green has been more active recently, Marshall points to her own extensive experience in high-stakes world title bouts as preparation for the big stage. Marshall respects Green`s toughness and power, acknowledging this is far from a warm-up fight.
Adding a logistical wrinkle to Marshall`s US return is the absence of her long-time head trainer, Peter Fury, who is unable to enter America due to a past indiscretion. Birmingham-based trainer Jon Pegg will be in her corner, a figure Marshall insists is well-versed in her style and training methods, having worked with her previously. Marshall appears unfazed by the change, reporting a strong training camp alongside Fury before traveling stateside.
Beyond Green, the name that consistently resurfaces is Claressa Shields. The rivalry, the history, and the fact that Shields holds the distinction of being the only fighter to defeat Marshall as a professional make a rematch the clear, desired endgame. Marshall expresses her strong interest, noting previous failed attempts to make the fight happen again, even following Shields into MMA without success. While hopeful the rematch can eventually materialize in the boxing ring, her pragmatic comment about “not holding my breath” suggests she understands the potential difficulties in securing that coveted second dance.
So, Savannah Marshall embarks on what could be the final chapter of her career. It`s a calculated sprint, not a marathon. Unify against Green, reclaim lost belts, and secure the Shields rematch – these are the explicit targets. With the clock ticking and a new promotional team backing her, the `Silent Assassin` is back, making noise with her intentions and aiming to go out on her own terms, with a collection of titles and perhaps, finally, revenge.
Tristan Blackwood