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Claressa Shields

Shields-Marshall is most watched women’s fight in history

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Shields-Marshall is most watched women's fight in history | Boxen247.com

Shields-Marshall is most watched women's fight in history | Boxen247.com

The most anticipated women’s fight of all-time is officially the most watched women’s fight of all-time.

Over two million viewers tuned in on Sky Sports to watch the historic BOXXER: Legacy event at the sold-out 02 Arena in London on Saturday, 15th October, making it the most-watched women’s professional boxing show in UK history and setting a new audience record for a live women’s sport event on Sky.

The ‘Fight of the Year’ contender was also screened in 150 countries worldwide, including ESPN+ in the USA, along with a live BBC Radio 5 Live broadcast which aired to hundreds of thousands of radio listeners.

In addition to the 2m viewers who watched the live event on Sky Sports, millions more watched the build-up and action across Sky Sports Boxing YouTube and Sky Sports TikTok live streams.

Featuring two world title fights and some of the UK’s most exciting young fighters, the event produced numerous highlight moments.

Fight fans who want to relive the epic night of history can watch full highlights of Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall on the BBC website and on the Sky Sports Boxing official YouTube channel.

Two statistics particularly underline the seminal nature of the event in the context of women’s sport: 35% of ticket purchasers and 40% of the Sky Sports television audience were female, unprecedented percentages for a professional boxing event.

American superstar and two-time Olympic Gold medalist Claressa Shields became the first fighter in history to be crowned an undisputed champion in three different occasions as defeated Britain’s Savannah Marshall with a unanimous points victory in front of a sold-out arena at The O2.

Shields was handed the commemorative WBC Elizabethan Belt too, in tribute to the late Her Majesty Elizabeth II after the initial date for the undisputed world middleweight title fight was postponed due to a national period of mourning following the passing of the UK monarch.

In the co-main event, Alycia Baumgardner defeated fellow-American Mikaela Mayer to unify the world super-featherweight titles.And three Team GB Olympic heroes extended their unbeaten professional records in front of 18,000 fans as Lauren Price, Karriss Artingtstall and Caroline Dubois shone in night that will go down in boxing folklore.

BOXXER CEO Ben Shalom said: “It was a historic event. We staged something many thought wasn’t possible and it will go down in the history books. We hope it has set the stage for what is to come.

“I want to thank Sky for their unwavering support for women’s sport and boxing. From a standing start, in just 12 months our partnership has achieved so much already and Saturday night culminated in a record-breaking event.

“We believe in the power of boxing and the next generation. Our focus from day one has to bring inclusivity, innovation and entertainment to one of the oldest sports in the world. We want BOXXER to be a force for good within boxing and have a positive impact on repositioning the sport for its long-term health and success.

“For women’s sport this was truly iconic and we want to thank all the fans for the support along with everyone involved and, of course, all the fighters. We can now look forward to an extremely bright future and carry such positive momentum into the rest of the year with some huge fight nights ahead.”

The next fight on Sky Sports will be headlined by Natasha Jonas world title unification fight with Maire-Eve Dicaire on Saturday, 12th November in Manchester.

For tickets, head to Boxxer.com

The historic event at The O2 was presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Village Hotels and FCI Markets.

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Shields bests Marshall, Baumgardner defeats Mayer in London

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Shields bests Marshall, Baumgardner defeats Mayer in London | Boxen247.com

Shields bests Marshall, Baumgardner defeats Mayer in London | Boxen247.com

A sold-out O2 Arena bore witness to a moment of sporting history on Saturday night as Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall entered the ring to bring their ten-year rivalry to an end in the most anticipated female fight of all time.

And after 10 rounds of explosive action, Claressa Shields took a unanimous decision victory (96-94, 97-93, 97-93) to become Undisputed Middleweight Champion once again.

Savannah Marshall fought tenaciously, and landed devastating shots that would have knocked out other opponents at multiple times in the fight, but Shields fought through these assaults, and used slick head movement and inch-perfect counter punching to claim victory.

The fight started in hellacious fashion as Shields fired off a brutal whirlwind of punches in the first round, many of which found their target, with Marshall firing back later in the same round and pushing Shields into the corner of the ring.

Both women kept up this stunning pace across the first 6 rounds, both smashing each other with multiple shots that would have knocked out other opponents in every round. Momentum swung back and forth multiple times in every round of the fight, while the capacity crowd at the O2 Arena erupted in jubilation at any success enjoyed by Savannah Marshall.

Both fighters started to slow from the attrition of such a savage battle in the later rounds, but both remained willing to trade punches at close range. Marshall consistently walked Shields down and pinned her to the ropes, while Shields chose her moments to unleash counter-punches, often stopping Marshall’s advance in its tracks.

The final rounds were a battle of wills as fatigue started to take effect, and both fighters dug down to the very bottom of the tank to keep going. After 10 years of rivalry, both women were willing to give everything they had to try to be victorious, and walk away Undisputed World Middleweight Champion.

Both showed tremendous spirit for every second of the 10 ferocious rounds, and showed why they are both World Champions, but Claressa Shields walked away victorious, and justified in her claim to be The Greatest Woman Of All Time.

Full Undercard Results:

Alycia Baumgardner def. Mikeala Mayer – SD (96-95, 96-95, 93-97)

Alycia Baumgardner won a razor-thin split decision victory to become Unified Super-Featherweight World Champion in a back and forth battle that proved the determination of both women after the huge animosity felt by both fighters towards each other after a fiery build up to the fight.

The fight turned back and forth as both fighters had spells of dominance across the rounds, and both showed heart to battle for 10 hard rounds.

The first three rounds of the fight were cagey, with both fighters having moments of success, but neither clearly establishing themselves as in control of the fight.

Mayer found her rhythm in the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds, finding range with her jab consistently and landing a barrage of powerful right hands in the 5th round that slowed Baumgardner’s aggression.

Baumgardner came back strongly after those dominant Mayer rounds and did damage across the rest of the fight, but with Mayer also finding opportunities for success.

Both women seemed certain of taking victory in the aggressive build-up to this fight, a build-up which boiled over at multiple points over the last few months, while both threw constant jabs on social media.

The animosity was never going to be settled anywhere other than in the ring, and with a decision as close as that one, it may still not be settled.

Lauren Price def. Timea Belik – TKO Rd 4 – 1:18

Another victory tonight for Olympic Gold Medalist and Welsh hero Lauren Price, only the 2nd of her young professional career, but she already looks destined to reach the very top of the sport after tonight’s  stoppage victory.

Tonight’s performance only further highlighted this phenomenal potential as she calmly outclassed a skillful opponent in Timea Belik. Price controlled the fight with her jab and expertly closed the distance at the perfect moments to shoot off combinations without Belik being able to fire anything off in return.

Belik was rocked by a damaging right hook near the end of the third round, and Price came close to claiming a stoppage there. Eventually the referee decided Belik had taken enough punishment and waved the fight off from an accumulation of damage.

Caroline Dubois def. Milena Koleva – TKO Rd 5 – 1:53

Caroline Dubois once again proved herself one of the most exciting prospects in world boxing, male or female, with a stunning knockout performance tonight.

Having taken 2 stoppage victories in the first 3 fights of her career, ‘Sweet Caroline’ seemed determined to make it a 3rd against an experienced opponent with 25 career fights, constantly roving forwards and throwing lightning fast 1-2s that thudded into Milena Koleva’s guard, pushing her back to the ropes.

The young Olympian started the fight tentatively, but started landing shots consistently in the second round, and ramped up the pressure from there. Dubois sent her tough opponent to the canvas in the dying seconds of the 4th round with a clubbing right hook that clipped Koleva round the ear and forced the round to end with the referee counting.

The former Team GB member finally overwhelmed her opponent with a sequence that started with a brutal left hook into Koleva’s body that left her winded, and a barrage of hooks forced Koleva into the corner and the referee stopped the fight with only 7 seconds left in the round.

Karriss Artingstall def. Marina Sakharov – PTS 60-54

Team GB Olympic Bronze Medalist Karriss Artingstall took an impressive victory in the opening bout of the televised portion of the event, moving to 2-0 as a professional after her successful debut in June. Artingstall battered Marina Sakharov from the very first bell, bludgeoning Sakharov with lead right hooks and straight right hands that almost stopped her in the very first minute.

Artingstall successfully switched offense between the head and the body throughout the fight, and was able to land consistently with both. The Macclesfield native threw with spite throughout the rounds, and looked very close to stopping the fight in multiple rounds.

Sakharov took a huge amount of punishment, but kept coming forward until the final bell and took the fight to the referee’s scorecard. Artingstall showed stunning boxing ability in her professional debut, but in her sophomore bout she showed destructive punch power and the hunger to seriously hurt her opponent.

April Hunter def. Erica Alvarez – PTS 60-54

Friend and camp mate of Savannah Marshall, April Hunter, took a convincing victory in her 7th professional bout, with 6 victories in that time. Hunter dealt with Alvarez’s awkward, frustrating style very successfully, connecting with jabs from the start of the first round.

Alvarez through looping, overhand rights throughout the fight, opening a small cut on the corner of Hunter’s eye in the very first round, but Hunter stayed disciplined and threw straight punches from range consistently, not allowing herself to get clipped often.

Hunter found more and more success as the fight went on, and looked close to getting a stoppage in the final rounds. Alvarez showed grit and determination to reach the final bell, but Hunter once again proved herself one of the best British boxers at her weight.

Ebonie Jones def. Vanessa Caballero – PTS 58-56

Still undefeated after four professional fights, Ebonie Jones put on a measured, but aggressive, performance on the way to a points victory. Jones used her jab and right hand to perfection against an intelligent opponent with over 40 professional fights to her name.

Jones refused to give up the centre of the ring in the fight, leaving Vanessa Caballero unable to stop Jones from firing off combinations across all the rounds. Jones continues to build momentum in her exciting professional career that looks set to carry on rising for a very long time.

Shannon Ryan def. Bucha El Quaissi – PTS 40-36

Shannon Ryan took another shutout points victory as she went to 3-0 as a professional, having not lost a single round in her career so far. She consistently outboxed and pressured an experienced opponent in Buchra El-Quaissi, landing big shots across all 4 rounds without taking much damage in return.

Ryan looked close to forcing a stoppage at points, with El Quaissi being hit with some serious shots at the end of the first round, and midway through the second, but the Spaniard showed heart to reach the final bell. In the fast moving world of Women’s boxing, Ryan looks set for big fights very soon.

Georgia O’Connor def. Joyce Van Ee – PTS 40-36

22-year-old prospect from the North East Georgia O’Connor took victory against an undefeated opponent in rough and tough Belgian Joyce Van Ee. O’Connor won Commonwealth Youth Gold in 2017, and looks set to light up the professional ranks very soon.

Van Ee dominated the centre of the ring through the fight, constantly pushing O’Connor to the ropes, forcing some slick footwork from the young star. This was an educational 4 rounds against an aggressive, undefeated opponent that will set her in good stead for even greater victories in future.

Ginny Fuchs def. Gemma Ruegg – PTS 60-54

Tokyo 2020 Olympian Ginny Fuchs took her professional record to 2-0 in a competitive six rounds that will leave her a vastly more experienced professional boxer than she entered the ring. Gemma Ruegg was tough and wily throughout the fight, and didn’t give the World Championship Bronze Medalist a moment to relax in the fight.

Fuchs found her rhythm more in the middle rounds and started to do significant damage, but not enough to stop Ruegg’s tenacious style, meaning Fuchs had to settle for a perfect points victory.

Sarah Liegmann def. Bec Connolly – PTS 59-55

Both Sarah Liegmann and Bec Connolly came to win in the fiery opening bout of the evening. Both women were willing to trade punches throughout the six rounds of the fight. The fight had quieter periods of boxing, but both were coming forward off their jab and launching right hands from the first minute to the last. Liegmann comes away from the fight an exciting 6-0 prospect in women’s boxing at only 20 years old.

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Shields vs. Marshall: Full fight card weights from London & video

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Shields vs. Marshall: Full fight card weights from London & video | Boxen247.com

Shields vs. Marshall: Full fight card weights from London & video | Boxen247.com

After ten years of tension, the time for talking is over – Claressa ‘GWOAT’ Shields and Savannah ‘The Silent Assassin’ Marshall officially made weight today for their long-awaited contest atop tomorrow night’s BOXXER LEGACY: Shields vs Marshall card.

The fight – for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world – headlines the event and brings a decade-long rivalry to the boil for what is the biggest fight in the history of female boxing.

Things are no less heated between the co-headline competitors: Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner had to be separated at today’s weigh-ins when they faced off for photos after making weight.

Having exchanged increasingly strong words for weeks, things boiled over today: as the things began to turn physical during the face-off, security stepped in to separate the pair. Mayer swung a kick at Baumgardner in the process, prompting an angry reaction from the Baumgardner team.

Today’s weigh-in results are below, measured in British stones and Imperial / US pounds:

At the link above please find a range of photos from today’s event, free for editorial use with credit to Lawrence Lustig / BOXXER.

 

BOXXER LEGACY: SHIELDS vs MARSHALL – Official Weigh In Results

Claressa Shields – 11st 5lb 5oz (159 lbs)

vs.

Savannah Marshall – 11st 5lb 5oz (159 lbs)

 

Mikaela Mayer – 9st 3lb 5oz (129 lbs)

vs.

Alycia Baumgardner – 9st 3lb 5oz (129 lbs)

 

Lauren Price 10st 5lb 5oz (145.3 lbs)

vs.

Timea Belik 10st 5lb (145 lbs)

 

Karriss Artingstall 8st 13lb 5oz (125 lbs)

vs.

Marina Sakharov 8st 12lb 5oz (124 lbs)

 

Caroline Dubois 9st 11 lbs (137 lbs)

vs.

Milena Koleva 9st 10 lbs 5oz (136.7 lbs)

 

April Hunter 11st (154 lbs)

vs.

Erica Alvarez 10st 12 lbs 5oz (152 lbs)

 

Georgia O’Connor 10st 9 lbs 5oz (149.3 lbs)

vs.

Joyce Van Ee 10st 12 lbs (152 lbs)

 

Ebonie Jones 8st 12 lbs (124 lbs)

vs.

Jasmina Nad 8st 8 lbs (120 lbs)

 

Ginny Fuchs 8st 2 lbs 5oz (114 lbs)

vs.

Gemma Ruegg 8st 3 lbs 5oz (115 lbs)

 

Sarah Leighmann 8st 13 lbs (125 lbs)

vs.

Rebecca Connolly 8st 13 lbs (125 lbs)

 

Shannon Ryan 8st 2 lbs (114 lbs)

vs.

Buchra El Quaissi 8st 5oz (117 lbs)

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Shields vs. Marshall: Both fighters get heated ahead of Saturday

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Shields vs. Marshall: Both fighters get heated ahead of Saturday | Boxen247.com

Shields vs. Marshall: Both fighters get heated ahead of Saturday | Boxen247.com

Claressa ‘GWOAT’ Shields and Savannah ‘The Silent Assassin’ Marshall had an intense encounter at today’s official pre-fight press conference in London, exchanging barbs back and forth ahead of their headline showdown this Saturday night atop the BOXXER LEGACY: Shields vs Marshall card.

Ten years in the making, a rivalry which started in 2012 – and which was delayed an extra five weeks due to September’s event being cancelled in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death – is finally due to come to fruition in what is expected to be the most-watched female fight of all time.

Here’s a selection of quotes from today’s press conference. Photos can be found at the above link and are free for editorial use, credit to Lawrence Lustig / Boxxer.

SAVANNAH MARSHALL

On the outcome of the fight

“I think she comes up short, I believe I’m a better boxer than Claressa and believe I always have been. Saturday couldn’t come quick enough, I’m just itching to get in there now. She can try to knock me out, hurt me, if you’ve got it you’ve got it, if you haven’t you haven’t.

To Shields, regarding her lack of finishes as a professional

“You couldn’t knock Ema Kozin out, couldn’t knock Hannah Rankin out. 12-0 as a pro and you haven’t learned to finish anyone. That’s concerning.”

“In the back of your mind, you’re petrified that I’m going to knock you out and that’s why you keep asking [me if I think I’m going to knock you out]. ‘Knockouts don’t matter? It will matter when you’re on your back looking at the lights.”

CLARESSA SHIELDS 

On Marshall’s punching power

“Of course we’re going to talk about the punch power, she may want to fight on the inside or outside, but just to touch and land, that’s really all I see.

“I may get hit, but if she thinks she’s not going to get hit she’s mistaken, if she thinks she’s the better boxer she’s mistaken. I’m going to adapt and do whatever I can to win and make the fight easy.”

“While you’re doing all this talking, you better come in here with that smoke and you better punch as hard as you say you can, because if you’ve got no punching power oh my god it’s going to be a hard night for you. I’m going to show everybody on Saturday there are skills to this.”

On the outcome of the fight

“I’m going to walk out carrying her head, I’m not worried about Savannah Marshall, I came over here, I’m a star in America, don’t get it twisted, I didn’t have to come over here.”

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Shields vs. Marshall: Fight week grand arrival quotes

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Shields vs. Marshall: Fight week grand arrival quotes | Boxen247.com

Shields vs. Marshall: Fight week grand arrival quotes | Boxen247.com

Fight week for the biggest fight in the history of women’s boxing officially began in London, England today with a ‘Grand Arrivals’ event for the key fighters taking part in this Saturday’s BOXXER LEGACY: Shields vs Marshall event.

Headlining rivals Claressa ‘GWOAT’ Shields and Savannah ‘The Silent Assassin’ Marshall, who contest the undisputed world middleweight championship on Saturday night, were joined on the red carpet today at TOCA Social, London by co-headline fighters Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner, along with Lauren Price, Kariss Artingstall and Caroline Dubois.

At the link above please find a range of photos from today’s event, free for editorial use with credit to Lawrence Lustig / BOXXER.

Here’s what the two headline fighters had to say today:

SAVANNAH ‘THE SILENT ASSASSIN’ MARSHALL 

WBO World Middleweight Champion

“It’s every fighter’s dream to be headlining with world titles on the line. It’s the pinnacle of our sport. And this fight with Claressa feels like this was always meant to be. So I’m excited and can’t wait to step through those ropes on Saturday night

“In recent years we’ve seen huge strides in women’s sport – especially in those sports that normally are dominated by men. And in the same year the Lionesses win the Euros, I’m happy to be part of this historic night for women’s boxing.

“But the great thing about this event is that it isn’t special just because it’s an all-female show. This is a great boxing card full stop. Even the supporting fight between Mikaela and Alycia is a headline act in itself. People are taking notice of this because the quality speaks for itself. This isn’t a gimmick. The fighters on this card are here purely on merit.

“I do see it growing in popularity, yes. Think about how far women’s boxing has come along in the short period it’s been given support? With continued backing you can only imagine what it’ll reach in 10 years time. A quick look at MMA will show you how far women can go in the sport and demand respect alongside their male peers. I don’t see any reason why the same can’t be done in boxing.

CLARESSA ‘GWOAT’ SHIELDS

WBA, WBC, IBF World Middleweight Champion

“It feels great to top this historic card and I think I’ve earned that right. I think if I wasn’t as great as I am, the opportunity would not have presented itself for me – or for her.

“Even though she’s the home fighter and everyone here is talking about her, I am the one with all the accomplishments. I’ve won twelve world titles, she’s won one. I won two Olympic gold medals, she’s won none.

“It’s a huge night for women’s boxing and I think if we stay on the road we are on now, it will reach equality with men’s boxing in my lifetime.

“Saturday night I will come out victorious like I always do, I hope the fans have a great time and I hope every fight on the card is great. I hope we make the national news all over the world, whether the fight ends in the first round or the final round.”

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Claressa Shields finally faces Savannah Marshall this Saturday

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Claressa Shields finally faces Savannah Marshall this Saturday | Boxen247.com

Claressa Shields finally faces Savannah Marshall this Saturday | Boxen247.com

The most anticipated women’s fight of all time between Bitter rivals Claressa “GWOAT” Shields and Savannah “The Silent Assassin” Marshall will take place on the re-scheduled date of this Saturday, October 15 from The O2, London and be available on ESPN+ for audiences in the U.S. Shields will bring the WBA, WBC and IBF middleweight titles into the showdown against Marshall and her WBO strap, in an event promoted by BOXXER and Salita Promotions in association with Hennessy Sports.

Shields will look to avenge the only loss of her storied career, an amateur defeat at the hands of Marshall in 2012, which kicked off the rivalry and war of words that continues to this day.

The co-main event of this historic all woman fight card is a bout presented in association with Top Rank which will see WBO and IBF world champion Mikaela Mayer and WBC champion Alycia Baumgardner face off in a unification bout in the 130-pound division.

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WBC unveils Queen Elizabeth II tribute belt for Shields vs. Marshall

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WBC unveils Queen Elizabeth II tribute belt for Shields vs. Marshall | Boxen247.com

WBC unveils Queen Elizabeth II tribute belt for Shields vs. Marshall | Boxen247.com

Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall have an added incentive to be victorious in the most anticipated female of all-time on Saturday, 15th October, with the winner to be handed the new WBC Elizabethan Belt.

The World Boxing Council have today unveiled an incredible tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after the original fight date was postponed due to a 10-day period of national mourning for the late British monarch following her passing two days before the initial 10th September event at The O2 in London, England.

Now, with a new date set, history awaits the first-ever all-female headline event in the UK capital with a commemorative title on the line.

Screened live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Briton Marshall will collide with American rival Shields for the Undisputed Middleweight Championship of the World.

Celebrating the glorious 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the significance of this symbolic filip will reward a supreme female champion of Boxing and further enhance the majesty of Women’s Boxing.

The WBC Elizabethan Belt is tastefully yet lavishly designed, befitting both the majesty of the woman in whose name and image it is created as well as the significance of the all-female boxing event featuring the Shields vs Marshall main event.

Boxing, the modern rules of which established by the Marquis of Queensbury, is a cherished part of the British sporting tradition, so much so that it is known as ‘The Noble Art’. The Queen’s father, King George VI was a keen boxing fan. He cheered on the victory of Randolph Turpin against Sugar Ray Robinson, absorbed by a famous radio transmission.

Following the sad death of Her Majesty, several high-profile sporting events throughout Britain were respectfully set aside and postponed, including the BOXXER card headlined by Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall.

Now, following that appropriate period of respect and reflection, it has been announced that October 15th will be the new date on which this iconic all-female boxing event will take place.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán said: “Queen Elizabeth II will live forever in our hearts and minds, the boxing world unites to render homage to one of the greatest human beings that ever lived, here where boxing was born.”

Savannah Marshall remarked, “I think the belt is brilliant, The WBC always pulls out the stops. It’s one of a kind and it’s staying in the UK. How can she walk away with that? That can’t leave this country, it wouldn’t be right.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO & Founder, added: “This is a wonderful tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II in what will be an iconic event for boxing. We are hugely grateful and proud to partner with Mauricio Sulaimán and the WBC.

“The Elizabethan Belt will provide an extra special incentive for both fighters – and this incredible, commemorative championship will provide the perfect legacy for the winner.”

For more details on the most-anticipated female fight of all-time and last remaining tickets, visit Boxxer.com

BOXXER proudly presents this event in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

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New date for Shields vs. Marshall now confirmed inc. undercard

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New date for Shields vs. Marshall now confirmed in. undercard | Boxen247.com

New date for Shields vs. Marshall now confirmed in. undercard | Boxen247.com

Unfinished business will finally be settled as the most anticipated female fight of all-time has officially been rescheduled for Saturday, October 15.

Having been postponed by the British Boxing Board of Control due to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last week, the long-awaited BOXXER: LEGACY – Shields vs Marshall clash will now take place in just over four weeks time at The O2 in London.

The headline bout – broadcast live and exclusively in the UK & Ireland on Sky Sports – will see bitter rivals Claressa ‘GWOAT’ Shields and Savannah ‘The Silent Assassin’ Marshall collide for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world, concluding their decade-long feud.

All tickets purchased for the original September date remain valid for the new October 15 date and ticket holders do not need to take any action or obtain new tickets to attend the event.

The last remaining tickets – priced at just £25 – are available to purchase now via boxxer.com. Tickets in every other price bracket are now sold out.

In association with TopRank and Matchroom Boxing, arch-enemies Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgarnder feature in a must-see co-main event for the undisputed super featherweight world titles, broadcast live on ESPN+ in the USA.

In what will be an iconic night of celebration for women’s boxing, the full undercard for the first-ever all-female card televised in Britain remains the same.

Team GB’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal heroine Lauren Price competes, alongside fellow Team GB favourites Karriss Artingstall and Caroline Dubois who will all look to light up the capital on what promises to be a special evening for the sport.

BOXXER would like to thank Professional Fighters League and PFL CEO Peter Murray for allowing Claressa Shields – who is promoted by Salita Promotions – the window to fight on October 15, given their previously scheduled November 25 PFL Finals.

BOXXER proudly presents this event in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

Shields vs. Marshall fight card CANCELLED – Rescheduled Oct. 15

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Shields vs. Marshall fight card CANCELLED - Rescheduled Oct. 15 | Boxen247.com

Shields vs. Marshall fight card CANCELLED - Rescheduled Oct. 15 | Boxen247.com

As a mark of respect following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the British Boxing Board of Control has made the decision to postpone Saturday’s event, BOXXER: Legacy – Shields vs Marshall.

Our sincere thoughts are with His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family during this profoundly sombre time.

This event will now provisionally take place on Saturday 15 October, and further details will be confirmed as soon as possible.

All tickets purchased for tomorrow’s Saturday 10 September event will remain valid for the rescheduled date.

All existing ticket holders will be able to attend the newly-rescheduled event with their existing tickets.

The O2 including Up at The O2, Icon Outlet and the Entertainment District, remains open.

Further updates on the new date will be made at the earliest opportunity.

BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom said: “This is an unprecedented moment in our history and our sincere thoughts are primarily with the Royal Family and the nation at this time. Out of respect, the British Boxing Board of Control has decided to postpone Saturday’s show.

“A provisional date for Saturday, 15th October at The O2 is being worked on by all parties to stage this unique and iconic night of celebration for women’s sport at a more appropriate time.”

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development at Sky Sports, said: “All of our thoughts at Sky Sports Boxing are with the Royal Family at this time.

“As much as we were all looking forward to witnessing this historical sporting spectacle this weekend, it is absolutely right to respectfully reschedule the show for October 15th.”

Further updates on the new date will be made at the earliest opportunity via Boxxer.com and on BOXXER social channels.

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STATEMENT: BOXXER – SHIELDS VS MARSHALL WEIGH-INS

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STATEMENT: BOXXER - SHIELDS VS MARSHALL WEIGH-INS | Boxen247.com

STATEMENT: BOXXER - SHIELDS VS MARSHALL WEIGH-INS | Boxen247.com

News of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was received with great sadness by the athletes and staff of BOXXER today.

Out of the deepest respect, Friday’s scheduled official weigh-ins for BOXXER – LEGACY: Shields vs Marshall, will now take place behind closed doors and will not be open to the media or to members of the public.

An announcement regarding the status of Saturday’s event, at The O2 in London, will be made following consultation with relevant government and sports sector bodies and will be made at the earliest possible opportunity.

This announcement will be made via Boxxer.com and the official BOXXER social media channels.

The deepest sympathies of every BOXXER athlete and staff member are with the Royal Family and everyone affected by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO and Founder, reflected on today’s news: “My thoughts are with the Royal Family and the nation at this incredibly sad time.

“Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was an iconic and unrivalled leader for our nation and an inspiration for women all over the world.

“Her leadership and her strength of character showed that there were no limits to what women can accomplish. Her passion for the equestrian sports was unrivalled and her presence at so many key sporting events underlined the importance she placed on the role of sport in society.

“On behalf of everyone at BOXXER and all our fighters, we express our heartfelt gratitude and thanks for everything Her Majesty has done to pave the way for women and inspire the next generation.”

An inspiration to millions of people in the United Kingdom and around the world, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. She set an example of duty and dedication which will echo through the ages.

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was a keen equestrian with a passion for horse-riding sports of all varieties.

And throughout her momentous 70 years of service, she played a central role in major events across the entire sports pantheon – particularly for women in sport, where she celebrated and inspired generations of grassroots and elite female athletes across the globe.

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Shields and Marshall press conference showdown quotes

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Shields and Marshall press conference showdown quotes | Boxen247.com

Shields and Marshall press conference showdown quotes | Boxen247.com

There were numerous heated verbal exchanges between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields at today’s official pre-fight press conference in London as the two faced a room packed with media ahead of this weekend’s long-awaited Undisputed World Middleweight Championship contest.

Co-headline fighters Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner struck a surprisingly respectful tone, contrasting the insults they’ve been swapping on social media, and in person, throughout the build-up to their contest on Saturday. However, the pair couldn’t resist exchanging heatedly during their face-off.

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO & Founder: “It’s been 10 years for both these athletes. We worked hard to make this fight because we believed it was something really special. These two are not only fulfilling their own dreams on Saturday night,  they’re fulfilling the dreams of women’s boxing.

To have women’s boxing alone selling out the O2 on Saturday night is a phenomenal achievement. Women’s boxing wasn’t like this when these two turned professional, you wouldn’t have been able to have an event like this.”

On Mayer vs Baumgardner: “Alycia clearly believes this is her moment, Mikaela believes it will be hers. That makes this an absolutely phenomenal fight with phenomenal talent, and a phenomenal rivalry. This could have headlined any event and I’m delighted it’s happening in the O2 on Saturday night.”

Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing Development: “This is a fantastic night, not just for women’s boxing, but for the sport as a whole. Two supremely talented, undefeated world Champions in Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall going head to head for the undisputed championship. This fight, this rivalry will go down in history, no matter the result on Saturday night.

“Women’s boxing has come so far in recent years, and there’s so much talent in the UK right now, and in the USA also. There’s the scope to have so many huge nights of boxing like this one from now on.

Bob Arum, Hall of Fame Promoter: “People years from now will be talking about this event in the history of boxing. Two huge multi-world title fights and hugely talented women down the whole card. This event will go down in boxing history.”

WBC, IBF & WBA Middleweight Champion, Claressa Shields: “When I win on Saturday night, it will be a great victory. This isn’t my first time in a fight for the undisputed championship, this isn’t my first time having a hard training camp, and it isn’t my first time being the underdog. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to silence the doubters about Savannah’s alleged knockout power.

“I’ve never seen someone live off an amateur win for 10 years of their career. I’ve dominated this sport for 10 years. I won the Olympics, then I won it again. Then I turned professional and won world titles from my 4th fight.

“Champions are not made, they’re born. And I was born to do this.”

WBO Middleweight Champion, Savannah Marshall: “I’ve always respected Claressa, but she doesn’t like that I have an opinion. I saw her box and I thought it was a diabolical performance. She ran down people’s throats that she was going to get a spectacular knockout, and I watched it for 10 rounds, drifted off, and told her how I felt.

“I’ve never said I’m going to knock her out, I’ve said I’m going to hurt her. She’s a bully and she’s going to wake up on the canvas. I can’t wait to take all those belts off her and become the Undisputed Middleweight Champion.”

WBO & IBF Super Featherweight Champion, Mikaela Mayer: “I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point in my career, so there’s no way I’m stopping now. It’s going to be just as hard to stay in the position I’m in as it was to get here. I’ve gone back and forth with Alycia in the past but I respect her enough to know she’s going to push me hard on Saturday night.

“At this stage of my career I can fight in many ways. If this has to be a dog fight, I’ll win a dog fight. If it has to be a boxing match, I’ll win a boxing match. I can beat her any way the fight goes. I’m going to take her into deep waters, I’m going to take her to places she’s never been before.”

WBC Super Featherweight Champion, Alycia Baumgardner: “This will be a historic night on September 10th and I can’t wait to be part of it.

“I’m ready to go for Saturday and have been preparing for this moment for a very long time. I’m at the top of my game and I’ve been boxing for 20 years for this fight. This Saturday is really going to mark my spot in this sport, who I am as an athlete. I was born for this, made for this, and this is my moment.”

Olympic Gold Medalist, Lauren Price: “I feel proud and privileged to be on this phenomenal card. I’m planning on taking my time in the professional ranks, after all my amateur success. I just want to look classy in every performance and take step ups every time.”

Caroline Dubois: “Having been to the O2 this week, and seeing the atmosphere as fight week has built, it’s showing me the size of this occasion. Now I can’t wait to get in the ring in a venue bigger than I’ve ever fought in and deliver a great performance.

“Women’s boxing moves so fast, before you know it in your career you’re fighting former world champions, and world title challengers, but I’m ready to deliver on Saturday night.”

Olympic Bronze Medalist, Karriss Artingstall: “I’m hoping to show the things I’ve been working on in camp on Saturday night. I need to start my knockout reel pretty soon so hopefully I can start it off and get the stoppage in this fight.

“I want to move as fast as my performances allow me, if I’m winning in style, then I’ll keep making big steps in every fight. The talent across the whole card is absolutely incredible, the main event and the co-main could headline any card going, and I feel so blessed to be part of it.”

Georgia O’Connor: “This is a great event for our sport and I can’t believe I get to be part of it, but I have to focus on my own fight and getting the victory to progress for my career.”

Ebonie Jones: “I’m feeling better than I ever have before and I’m looking forward to taking another step in my career on Saturday night at such a great event. But for me it’s all about getting another victory.”

April Hunter: “I’m proud to be representing the North-east at this event, just like Savannah is. I’ve had a set-back already in my career, and that’s just motivating to give everything I have in all my fights, including on Saturday night.”

Shannon Ryan: “I can’t wait for Saturday night. To be performing on this stage so early in my professional career is amazing, but I’m looking to make a statement. My style is suited to the professional game much more than it ever was for the amateurs, so I’m ready to kick on.”

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Savannah Marshall & Claressa Shields staredown quotes

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Savannah Marshall & Claressa Shields staredown quotes | Boxen247.com

Savannah Marshall & Claressa Shields staredown quotes | Boxen247.com

A special fight deserves a special build-up, so BOXXER chartered a vessel to take bitter rivals Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields – plus a host of British media – down the Thames river for open workouts and staredowns in the shadow of the iconic London Tower Bridge.

Joining the crew on the ‘BOXXER Battleship’ were co-main event fighters Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner and some of the standout British fighters from the landmark all-female card, including Lauren Price, Karriss Artingstall, Caroline Dubois, April Hunter, Georgia O’Connor, and Ebonie Jones.

As the city’s greatest landmarks rolled by, the array of stars took to the ring to work out ahead of competition on Saturday in front of the assembled media and a platoon of stars from the world of women’s spot, including Fara Williams, England’s most capped football player, and Olympic 400m Gold Medalist Christine Ohuruogo.

Super Featherweight Champions Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner also faced off before their clash on Saturday night, with the pair trading barbs on social media for months on end, all coming to an explosive conclusion this weekend at the O2 Arena, live on Sky Sports.

Savannah Marshall said, “She’s had a lot to say about me but it doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t get under my skin. I don’t care what she thinks about anything – she’s not one of my friends or family so her opinion doesn’t mean anything at all to me. We will do our talking in the ring on Saturday night – I’m going to take her into deep water and drown her in the Thames,”

Claressa Shields said, “I’ve always said that women’s boxing can sell and that I was the one. It’s nearly sold out, there will be nearly 20,000 fans in the O2 Arena and I’ve been training my butt off. I want all the smoke and when I leave the ring on Saturday night, Savannah Marshall will be silenced and I will be the undisputed middleweight champion of the world,”

Fara Williams, England’s most capped footballer: “This event is amazing, and it shows how far women’s sport has come from a few years ago. BOXXER have taken a huge risk here and it’s a good thing that it’s been done. It’s going to be a history-making event in front of 20,000 people, and there will be an undisputed Middleweight Champion. And hopefully an English one too.”

Christine Ohuruogu, Olympic 400m Gold Medalist: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity in boxing. An all women’s card, never happened before. Hopefully events like this in boxing will happen again. This follows on from the amazing women’s football in the summer. I’m so happy to see women’s sport with such positive momentum.”

Tickets for the event are almost sold out, with a small batch remaining in the £25 category. A full house is expected in London 02 Arena on Saturday night for this landmark moment in women’s sport.

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New BOXXER documentary uncovers Shields-Marshall rivalry

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New BOXXER documentary uncovers Shields-Marshall rivalry | Boxen247.com

New BOXXER documentary uncovers Shields-Marshall rivalry | Boxen247.com

Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields’ extraordinary, bitter rivalry has been unraveled in a revealing, tell-all documentary.

Produced by BOXXER, the fascinating feature piece uncovers the makings of both world champions and what is driving them in their bid to become the world’s undisputed best, less than a week before the most anticipated female female of all-time.

Including exclusive interviews and previously unseen material, the film – now live on YouTube – hears from both fighters, their camps and learns all about how their incredible, decade-long feud began, with predictions from both on how it will end at The O2 in London on Saturday, 10th September.

Hear their contrasting tales as Hartlepool-born Savannah Marshall details how she combated her timidness as a youngster to being crowned WBO world middleweight champion.

And American two-time Olympic gold medalist and reigning WBC, IBF and WBA world champion Claressa Shields discusses her harrowing upbringing as a child which drove her to global superstardom.

PLUS, hear from the likes of BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom, Peter Fury, Savage Dan, Spencer Oliver and more as they deliver their verdicts ahead of this titanic all-Atlantic tussle which takes place in the capital in just over a week’s time.

Below, you can find a sample of selected quotes from the documentary:

Savannah Marshall 

On starting boxing, aged 12: “I was very sporty growing up. I played football, netball… but [aged 12] I walked into a boxing gym because one of my friends had a little plastic trophy, which I saw glisten in the sun. And I thought, I want one of them. Curiosity took a hold of me. I was more curious than anything. I remember walking up the steps in the gym, hearing music blasting and bags being punched. I was stood at the door looking through the glass, thinking I want to go in. Looking back now, and considering our painfully shy I was at that age, I can’t believe I done that.”

On Claressa Shields proclaiming to be the G.W.O.A.T (Greatest Woman of All-Time): “Claressa’s quite comical. There’s nothing she can do or say that will effect me.”

On discovering her renowned hard-hitting punching power: “I remember when I was younger, one month my mum got a discount on some steaks. And that was all we ate: steak and chips, steak pie, steak stew, steak and dumplings… you name it, we had it. So that must be why.”

On breaking away from being ‘shy’: “Everyone’s talking about the evolution of Savannah Marshall. I’ve gone from being a relative mute to being the not-so ‘Silent Assassin’.”

On working with Peter Fury: “I always knew I could dig. But when I got to train with Peter, he showed me how to punch properly.”

Claressa Shields

On losing to Savannah Marshall as an amateur – her only, ever defeat: “It was a whirlwind getting there but I never quit. After I lost to Savannah Marshall I was very angry about it.”

On her harrowing upbringing – and what has driven her to success in Boxing: “I didn’t talk a lot growing up. I didn’t talk until I was 5. And then, at the age of 11, I started boxing. I look at where I come from, and I come from the bottom – and I don’t think what people realise what the bottom is. I won the Olympics. But before I left home, I didn’t even have a bed to sleep in.”

“I went through some things growing up. I got sexually abused when I was 5. That made me really angry and confused towards people. I didn’t have a bed until after the Olympics – and that was at 17. From 14-17, and even before then, I was sleeping on floors. People wonder why I’m so hungry, it’s because it’s what I have to do for myself. If I didn’t, me and my family would have been poor forever. With the skills I have, I was never going to settle for that. I knew I was going to do something with them. I had to win the Olympics. I had to win world championships. I don’t hate these girls, but they have to understand how much I have to win. They just don’t get it.”

Ben Shalom

“Look at the difference now in Savannah in her professional days. She’s gone from being in the middle of cards to headlining events and selling out arenas, including her home city of Newcastle, which she could have only dreamt. I think this is the biggest women’s fight of all-time. But this is definitely the biggest rivalry in women’s boxing history.”

Spencer Oliver

“When I first met Savannah it was in 2010 when she was boxing for England and we saw her in Sheffield. It was myself, Johnny Nelson and Adam Smith. We all went up there to see Savannah because she was a girl with unbelievable talent – but she didn’t believe in herself. Confidence was a massive issue. If you don’t believe in yourself in boxing, you’re in trouble. You need that self-belief. But she has discovered it – and she did that by teaming up with Peter Fury. It’s an incredible journey from where she has come from to where she is now. She is arguably the best female fighter in the world – and we’re going to find that out.”

Peter Fury

“She’s the perfect student. She’s strictly business. Be diets, training regimes… whatever you throw at her, she does. You couldn’t ask for a better person to be with and to train with. She’s a no-nonsense type of person.”

Shields vs Marshall, for the undisputed world title, headlines BOXXER: ’Legacy’ – a historic all-female night of boxing – on Saturday, September 10th at The O2 in London, live and exclusive on Sky Sports. For tickets visit Boxxer.com

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Portion of Shields vs Marshall ticket sales to go to England Boxing

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Portion of Shields vs Marshall ticket sales to go to England Boxing | Boxen247.com

Portion of Shields vs Marshall ticket sales to go to England Boxing | Boxen247.com

BOXXER, the next generation boxing promotion founded by Ben Shalom, has today announced an exciting partnership to invite England Boxing members to the most anticipated female fight of all-time.

On Saturday, September 10th, Savannah Marshall will fight bitter enemy Claressa Shields for the undisputed world middleweight titles on what will be a historic night of legacy for the sport.

With the groundbreaking event expected to be a sell-out at The O2 in London, BOXXER has held back a number of tickets exclusively for England Boxing members to be seated together. And for every ticket purchased by an England Boxing member, BOXXER is pledging to donate £5 back to England Boxing to be invested in gyms across the country.

To help inspire the next generation, BOXXER feels it is important to remove barriers for the amateur boxing community to attend these huge events and have access to moments of such historic nature in order to. This ‘Legacy’ show, screened live and exclusively on Sky Sports, is just the beginning of that.

England Boxing is the National Governing Body for the sport of Boxing in England. Its vision, supported by BOXXER, is to ‘Inspire and transform lives through boxing’. It currently oversees more than 980 affiliated clubs, 24,000 members and 100,000 recreational boxers across the country.

This generous contribution from BOXXER will benefit England Boxing members enormously, enabling gyms to invest the donation towards much-needed kit and equipment.

Fundamentally, it will help to inspire the next generation to participate in grassroots Boxing – particularly among young female amateurs, where there is a real opportunity for the sport to grow.

WBO world middleweight champion Savannah Marshall said: “It’s a brilliant, groundbreaking initiative that I think a lot of young aspiring female boxers will benefit from.

“For them to know they have this kind of support and encouragement, will mean a lot. Because in recent times, the sport has come a long way in celebrating its female participants.

“And this move here with England Boxing is a way to continue that positive movement and lay the foundations for future amateurs, pros and world champions.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER Founder and CEO, said: “We are proud to support England Boxing. Every professional fighter will tell you just how important their amateur story is to them. So it is important for today’s amateur boxers to have access to moments of such historic nature.

“September 10th will be a historic night for boxing. The fighters will leave a lasting legacy for the sport, one that will inspire the next generation. It will be an event not to be missed.”

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Shields vs. Marshall: Claressa Shields quotes ahead of Sept. 10

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Shields vs. Marshall: Claressa Shields quotes ahead of Sept. 10 | Boxen247.com
Photo: Adam J. Dewey / Salita Promotions

Shields vs. Marshall: Claressa Shields quotes ahead of Sept. 10 | Boxen247.com

Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall

The O2, London, England – 10 September 2022

Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields held a media workout in Detroit on Wednesday to preview her upcoming undisputed middleweight world championship showdown against longtime rival Savannah Marshall. Shields vs. Marshall will take place on Saturday, September 10 from The O2, London and be available on ESPN+ for audiences in the U.S. Shields will bring the WBA, WBC and IBF middleweight titles into the showdown against Marshall and her WBO strap, in an event promoted by Salita Promotions and BOXXER in association with Hennessy Sports.

Shields will look to avenge the only loss of her amateur career and end a long war of words with Marshall that has reached a boil in recent years and which stems from Marshall’s points victory over Shields in a 2012 amateur bout.

Here is what Shields and her promoter Dmitriy Salita had to say Wednesday from Downtown Boxing Gym.

CLARESSA SHIELDS

On her mindset during training…

“I just want to be better than yesterday. That’s all it’s ever been for me. I’m already better than (Marshall). I already have big accomplishments, gold medals, the wins and everything. It’s not really about her. Yes, she’s a good fighter and everything, and she holds one belt, but I hold 12. I don’t think about her when I’m training. Yes, we have a gameplan for (Marshall), but I’m just trying to be better than I was yesterday.”

On the loss to Marshall in the amateurs…

“I only lost in the amateurs in boxing. I’ve never lost in professional boxing. I’m undefeated. I lost to her 10 years ago in the amateurs by six points. It was 14-8. But that really doesn’t bother me at all because I’ve been able to be successful after that. On the other hand, you’ve got (Marshall) who lost every tournament she was in after our fight, and in those same tournaments I won gold.

“So having one loss in the amateurs and being able to turn pro and do everything that I’ve done since, I don’t really care about (that loss). But I think it’s a great story and storyline, and I guess we’ve got history. She doesn’t like me. I don’t like her, and I’m looking forward to fighting in six weeks.”

On being a model and mentor to younger women and athletes…

“I know that I have a big impact on the city of Flint and Michigan, and just throughout the U.S. for all the Black girls and girls who want to box. And I do take pride in it. That’s why I carry myself the way that I do. That’s why I continue to be confident. People have tried to force me to quiet down, and find a happy medium, and be nice to my opponents, and don’t trash talk, but it’s boxing.

“I’m very passionate about the sport and I love trash talking. I love the build-up to fights. And I’m officially a millionaire. I can do what I want, and I don’t have to follow all these rules that they put on women. So I just want to show the younger girls coming up to just be you.

“As far as helping the kids of Flint, I don’t know where I’d be without boxing. So me giving back with the Shields Community Outreach nonprofit is very heartwarming for me. I’ve met over 100 to 150 kids over the last few weeks and been able to teach them, spend time with them and mold them. You get to see people who didn’t have confidence gain confidence and see a future in themselves. I’m just happy that their parents give me the opportunity to do that.”

On training in both Michigan and Florida…

“I’ve been in training camp here in Michigan for five weeks already. I usually do six weeks of camp. But for this camp, since it’s so important and she’s such a big puncher, we’re going to put in an extra five weeks for (Marshall).

“I like training in Florida. It’s hot. I don’t have any distractions, like family and friends and stuff like that. That’s just where I do all my training camps. I’ve never done a full camp here in Flint.”

On the emotions ahead of September 10…

“Marshall has been quiet since the press conference. She was quiet during our sit together. I was thinking she would have more energy and more spite. But when we were face-to-face she tucked her tail, and that just showed me right there that she didn’t want this fight. She knows she’s not going to win this fight. I saw her do an interview where she had a black eye. So they’ve been trying to put her through all kinds of stuff in sparring to make sure she’s ready. But the truth is she’s lightyears behind me.”

On the strength of Shields’ professional opposition compared to Marshall’s…

“Marshall has fought a whole bunch of tomato cans. She might be 12-0 with 10 knockouts, but if you go and look at her record, the majority of those girls had losing records. You’re supposed to knock them out on three days’ notice, or a week’s notice.”

On the value of her previous experience in undisputed fights…

“When we get inside the ring, she hasn’t done this before. She hasn’t fought for an undisputed championship. This will be my third time. So people love to build it up and trash talk, but she’s going to want to talk trash in the ring, and I’m just setting that to the side and focused on training to be better, faster, stronger, sharper and smarter. I think she knows that and that she’s in for a tough fight.”

DMITRIY SALITA, President of Salita Promotions

On making the deal for Shields vs. Marshall…

“Claressa’s goal has always been to prove that she’s the greatest female boxer of this generation. She’s been doing this so far in her career. I’m surprised that the oddsmakers see Claressa as the underdog, but she has been proving the odds wrong her whole life, from growing up in Flint, to becoming two-time Olympic gold medalist, to being the face of women’s boxing and taking this sport to the next level.”

On how he sees the fight playing out inside the ring…

“I think the same thing will happen that happened when Claressa fought Christina Hammer. People thought it was going to be a tough, challenging fight, but they say pressure makes diamonds and I believe that Claressa is a great, great athlete and that situation is only going to make her step up to that next level and bring out her true potential. I believe she’ll raise her performance to the next level and outlast Savannah Marshall.”

On the significance of Shields vs. Marshall…

“This is a big event and a big fight, and I really believe that this is quite a significant cultural event as well. We’ve seen a tremendous media turnout here today, which is great. Not only is it great for this fight, but it also shows the return and growth of boxing and Claressa is big part of it.”

On Marshall’s strengths…

“She’s a good boxer. She’s getting better with each fight. She has good footwork, good power, a good jab. I believe that she’s a good, solid fighter. But as Roger Mayweather used to say, there are levels to this. And I believe Claressa is on a different level. Savannah is a good fighter. We respect her for stepping up to the plate. But great fighters like Claressa make good fighters like Savannah look subpar, and that’s what I think will happen on September 10.”

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Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall: Press conference quotes

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Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall: Press conference quotes | Boxen247.com

Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall: Press conference quotes | Boxen247.com

Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall

The O2, London, England – 10 September 2022

Bitter rivals Claressa “GWOAT” Shields and Savannah “The Silent Assassin” Marshall went face to face and declared their intention to capture the undisputed middleweight world championship on Tuesday as they previewed their long awaited showdown during a press conference in London followed by a virtual press conference for international media.

The most anticipated women’s fight of all time will take place Saturday, September 10 from The O2, London and be available on ESPN+ for audiences in the U.S. Shields will bring the WBA, WBC and IBF middleweight titles into the showdown against Marshall and her WBO strap, in an event promoted by BOXXER and Salita Promotions in association with Hennessy Sports.

Shields will look to avenge the only loss of her storied career, an amateur defeat at the hands of Marshall in 2012, which kicked off the rivalry and war of words that continues to this day.

The co-main event of this historic card is a bout presented in association with Top Rank which will see WBO and IBF world champion Mikaela Mayer and WBC champion Alycia Baumgardner face off in a unification bout in the 130-pound division.

Be first in line to get exclusive access to discounted tickets by joining the waiting list at Boxxer.com. The fight will air live and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports and is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

Here is what Shields, Marshall and Salita Promotions President Dmitriy Salita had to say Tuesday:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“It means a lot to be here. I’m grateful that the UK fans have accepted me, once again, to come out here and fight. Savannah Marshall got lucky in 2012, but she won’t get lucky in 2022. I was 17 and also London was hosting the Olympics and they favored her. I never scored eight points in any of my fights, leading up. And then with the point system, all of a sudden I score eight? I just scored 30 points the day before, as I did every other fight and then, against her, I only scored eight points versus her 14? I was 17. She couldn’t shake me. She didn’t drop me. She couldn’t even get an eight count, but now she’s a knockout puncher?

“The Olympics and the amateurs matter to you. As an amateur, you went 60-16 with zero knockouts. I was 77-1, 19 KOs. You had zero (knockouts). You can’t do anything I can do. You can sit here and talk, but you’re not going to win on September 10.

“I don’t hate nobody, but I do have a huge dislike for her. My grandma told me not to use the word hate, so I don’t use it, but I don’t like her and she’s one of my biggest haters.

“They’re making it out that she’s a big knockout puncher and she’s the only blemish on my record as an amateur and she has the recipe to beat me. My job is to show everybody in the world that she doesn’t and that I reign supreme in three different weight classes for a reason. If she was the one who was really supreme, she would be champion in three different weight classes and not me.

“She’s a slow fighter and that is going to hurt her. Also, she’s tall but doesn’t know how to fight tall. All that inside stuff isn’t going to work against me!

“We are not here, about to fight in front of 80,000, because you’ve won one belt. I’m the champ. I’m the GWOAT. Nobody knows you. Every time I speak of you, you get bigger. After this, you’re going to have 20,000 more followers because I’m here, not because of anything you’ve done.

“They’re making it out that she’s a big knockout puncher and she’s the only blemish on my record as an amateur and she has the recipe to beat me. My job is to show everybody in the world that she doesn’t and that I reign supreme in three different weight classes for a reason. If she was the one who was really supreme, she would be champion in three different weight classes and not me.

“She’s a slow fighter and that is going to hurt her. Also, she’s tall but doesn’t know how to fight tall. All that inside stuff isn’t going to work against me!

“We are not here, about to fight in front of 80,000, because you’ve won one belt. I’m the champ. I’m the GWOAT. Nobody knows you. Every time I speak of you, you get bigger. After this, you’re going to have 20,000 more followers because I’m here, not because of anything you’ve done.

“I’m happy that there’s another championship fight on the card, especially the women. Me and Mikaela went to the Olympics and the world championships together, and Alicia lives not even 45 minutes from where I live, so I’m friends with her too. This is one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing. We’re fighting in front of 80,000. We have a great co-main and there will be more women added to the card.

“Salita Promotions has never failed me. When I first met Dmitriy Salita and he asked me what my goals were, I said I want to be world champ in my seventh fight. I was world champ in my fourth fight. I told him I wanted to be undisputed champ against whoever the champion was. I’m like ‘get me the best. I want to fight the best, every fight.’ And he shook his head and said ‘yes, yes yes, we’re going to make it happen’. And after I beat Christina Hammer, I told him I’m not fighting for no less than $350,000, moving forward and he made sure I got $350,000 for those fights after that. In women’s boxing back then.

“Salita Promotions has been great to be with. I just love Dmitriy so much because he’s actually a fighter. We got in the ring and sparred together. To have a promoter who knows what we put ourselves through, he’s always asking me what else he can do and what else do I need? He always makes sure he comes through for me and he comes to visit me every single camp to make sure I’m feeling good and everything. I’m happy to be part of Salita Promotions.”

SAVANNAH MARSHALL

“This fight has been a long time coming, but we are here now and on September 10, I will be the new undisputed middleweight champion of the world.

“I’m a fan of Claressa Shields. What she’s done for the sport is amazing. She’s a pioneer for the sport, but the reality is, she doesn’t beat me. The first time we fought she didn’t perform and she won’t again on September 10. That’s what it is and it kills her. It burns her inside.

“I’ve knocked out people you went 10 rounds with. I’m not just going to beat you. I’m going to hurt you and outbox you. That’s all you need to know. I’m a better fighter. I’ll have all her world titles on September 10.

“It’s amazing, not just for me and Claressa headlining, but also having an amazing fight in Mikaela and Alycia. I think their fight is a headliner on its own. Sharing the night with them two will be unbelievable.

“I win this fight through heart and my boxing brain. On September 10, I will become the champion of the world. And that will be the end of her rubbish. See you on September 10, babe.

“I believe I’m a better fighter than Claressa Shields. I’m more skilled than Claressa. I believe I’m more determined.”

DMITRIY SALITA, President of Salita Promotions

“This fight has literally been a year in the making, and for us on the team, years in the making, so I’m very happy that we’re here. Claressa is not only known as the GWOAT because she’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist, multi-time amateur boxing world champion, three-division professional world champion and a two-division undisputed world champion, but because of what she’s doing right here. She’s traveling thousands of miles away from her hometown to avenge the only loss of her career when she was 17 years old. The rivalry could have been forgotten about, but she is the GWOAT.

“The boxing fans in the UK are phenomenal. I know they will appreciate Claressa’s aim and goal to be the best and to challenge herself and to get out of her comfort zone of the United States and to come out here and avenge that only loss.

“I really believe that Claressa Shields is a generational athlete who, 20 years from now, will be mentioned along with the greatest athletes like Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Pele… the greatest athletes who transcended their sport.

“I believe the reason Savannah is here and the reason many women are getting the respect they deserve is because of the success of Claressa Shields.

“As a little kid, before women’s boxing was a business, Claressa made a choice to go to the gym and strive to be the best. As a kid, to have that dream and to accomplish it and be sitting here now, is really incredible. Claressa Shields is not only an American hero, she’s a hero for the world. She has done a lot for not only women’s sports, but women’s rights too and I am very grateful and honored to be part of this incredible journey.

“This is the buildup of a very high-level championship fight. There is such a rivalry between them for fans to get behind. This event is not only a great sporting event, it’s a great cultural event. It’s going to be a fantastic night of boxing on September 10.”

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Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall: The big fight is set for Sept. 10

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Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall: The big fight is set for Sept. 10 | Boxen247.com

Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall: The big fight is set for Sept. 10 | Boxen247.com

Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall

The O2, London, England – 10 September 2022

BOXXER in association with Hennessy Sports and Salita Promotions, today officially announced that the long-awaited showdown between bitter rivals Claressa ‘GWOAT’ Shields (12-0, 2 KO’s) and Savannah ‘The Silent Assassin’ Marshall (12-0, 10 KO’s) will take place at The O2, London on Saturday 10th September.

The encounter will bring to a head a decade-long rivalry which began in their amateur days and has continued to intensify ever since. With both securing 12 wins from their 12 professional fights, this 13th showdown will prove to be unlucky for one.

On the line in this sport-defining showdown is the Undisputed World Middleweight Championship: Shields will enter the ring carrying the WBA, WBC and IBF World Middleweight Championship belts, while Marshall will wear her WBO strap.

Shields is no stranger to undisputed status. She held all four middleweight belts between 2019 and 2020, then repeated the feat at light-middleweight to become the first and only boxer ever to hold the four major titles in two weight classes simultaneously.

Her outstanding career also includes two Olympic gold medals, won at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Her perfect professional record is mirrored by an almost-perfect amateur record: her only ever loss inside a boxing ring came at the hands of Savannah Marshall.

That 2012 encounter ended with Marshall taking a decisive 14-8 points win, sparking one of the most bitter rivalries in today’s sporting landscape and making this one of the most highly-anticipated bouts of recent memory.

With global interest in the fight and their legacy on the line, this historic fight also promises to elevate women’s boxing to a new level, ranking alongside any of the great championship showdowns in the men’s divisions.

Other ‘firsts’ on the night include:

·   First ever all-female UK boxing card

·   First female boxers to headline at The O2

The chief support slot of this historic card is a bout presented in association with Top Rank which will see WBO and IBF world champion Mikaela Mayer and WBC champion Alycia Baumgardner face off in a unification bout in the 130-pound division.

“I don’t hate nobody but I really do have a huge dislike for her. My grandmother told me not to use the word hate so I won’t use it, but I don’t like Savannah and she’s one of my biggest haters,” Shields told the assembled media at today’s press conference.

“They’re saying she’s a big knockout puncher, she’s the only blemish on my record as an amateur, that she has the recipe to beat me. My job is to show that she doesn’t and that I don’t reign supreme in three different weight classes for no reason. If she was better than me, she’d be the one supreme in three different weight classes, not me.”

Marshall fired back, “I’m actually a fan of Claressa Shields, she’s a pioneer and what she has done for the sport has been amazing. But the reality is, she doesn’t beat me. She didn’t before and she won’t again. And it kills her, it absolutely burns her inside, the fact that I beat her and I’ll beat her again. I’m not just going to beat her, I’m going to outbox her. I’m going to hurt her.

“This fight has been a long time coming but we’re here now and September 10 I will be the new middleweight champion of the world.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER Founder and CEO, said, “It’s finally here. All sports need major rivalries to transcend their boundaries and this is the biggest rivalry ever to come from women’s boxing. This is a major moment for the whole sport of boxing, a transatlantic fight which will bring new light to the sport. Two major stars, two elite athletes, two personalities and a story that you could not make up. Thank you to all the promoters and managers involved to make a fight that many thought could not happen. A historic night awaits at the O2.”

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development at Sky Sports said, “This is a truly iconic fight for our sport on what will be an unprecedented night at London’s O2 on September 10th. To finally announce one of the most mouthwatering matches of this modern generation between our own incredible World Champion Savannah ‘The Silent Assassin’ Marshall and the GWOAT Claressa Shields, an American idol, is a pleasure and an honour.

“This is just laced with history, needle, spice, revenge – everything – and these two elite unbeaten boxing champions and fabulous sporting figures clash for the undisputed middleweight title in one of the biggest fights of this era.

“September 10th will be a night to remember forever and a landmark moment for women’s sport with an all-female show. We welcome rising star Mikaela Mayer against Alycia Baumgardner in a super chief support bout and title unification match. And there will be other major announcements to make this the biggest night ever for women’s boxing. We are so proud to be showing this unique, magical evening on Sky Sports.”

Hennessy Sports CEO Mick Hennessy, manager of Savannah Marshall, said, “In my opinion this is clearly the biggest and most exciting fight in the history of women’s boxing. It’s going to make history and it’s going to live up to every expectation. It’s been ten years in the making and I can’t wait for September 10 at The O2. This has the potential to be the fight of the year worldwide.”

Dmitriy Salita, CEO of Salita Promotions and manager of Claressa Shields, said “Shields vs Marshall is going to be one of the most significant sporting events of our generation inside and outside the ring. I am grateful to co-promote this historic event with BOXXER on the Sky platform. It will be a fight to remember inside the ring and another example of why Claressa Shields is the GWOAT,”

Be first in line to get exclusive access to discounted tickets by joining the waiting list at Boxxer.com

The fight will air LIVE and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports, and in the US on ESPN+

This historic event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

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Savannah Marshall faces off with Femke Hermans ahead of Saturday

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Savannah Marshall faces off with Femke Hermans ahead of Saturday | Boxen247.com

Savannah Marshall faces off with Femke Hermans ahead of Saturday | Boxen247.comBoxen247.com YouTube Channel

Savannah Marshall vs. Femke Hermans

Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England – 2 April 2022

Savannah Marshall believes that her WBO middleweight title defence against Femke Hermans this weekend will serve as the final roadblock before a summer showdown with Claressa Shields.

Marshall puts her belt on the line for the third time against Hermans at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

The final press conference took place on Thursday, and Marshall plans on getting past Hermans and then turning her attention to Shields.

Marshall said: “I can’t wait. This fight has been nearly a year in the making. We were meant to box last year and it fell through on fight week, so me and Femke have done two full camps studying each other. I’m familiar with her, and she will be with me.

“This is my toughest test to date. Femke is a former world champion and has only ever lost to world champions. My last fight was great. The reception I received was unbelievable. Lolita came storming out in the first round and tried to stick it on me, and that aided the knockout in the second round

“I’ve come on leaps and bounds under Peter Fury and due to this platform on Sky. Claressa knows what I can do, so I’m not out to impress her. She’s always been creeping out in the background.

“I have tunnel vision, and I know I can’t overlook Femke, but once I win on Saturday there is nothing in the way of setting up a massive fight against Claressa. I’ll get Femke out of the way and then we’ll have it in the summer.”

Hermans said: “You will see on Saturday what happens. I’m in good shape and have had a good camp. I’m very pleased with my team, and everything has fallen together over the last few months, so I’m ready to kick some ass on Saturday.

“Savannah had a big career as an amateur and also as a professional. She fought some good fighters but I think I’ll be her biggest fight, and she’ll have to prove something on Saturday.”

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Eubank Jr. defeats Williams, Shields defeats Kozin & full BOXXER results

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Lee McGregor faces Diego Alberto Ruiz in London on February 11 | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)Boxen247.com YouTube Channel

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams

Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales – 5 February 2022

(For a huge photo gallery of the Eubank Jr. vs, Williams fight, click here)

Years of rivalry and a river of bad blood carried Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Williams into this grudge match in Cardiff, but in the event, but favour flowed almost entirely one way once the fight got started.

Eubank managed to knock Williams down an astonishing four times during the fight, a statistic made all the more remarkable given that Williams is notoriously gritty and not a fighter given to being put down easily.

Even more surprisingly, three of the knockdowns came in the first four rounds, with Williams still fresh and the volume of traded blows a mere fraction of what they would be by the time the final bell sounded.

The secret was Eubank’s left hand. A stiff jab – almost a lead cross – put Williams down in the first round, dropping him when he came surging forwards looking to put pressure on. A left hook delivered the same service in the same circumstances a round later.

Williams was immediately back to his feet both times and immediately back into the fray, but Eubank Jr was in total control of the pace and distance of the fight.

Moving backwards and allowing Williams to hold centre, Eubank left his rival’s punches falling short again and again. When Williams would press forward to close the distance, Eubank would have counters waiting for him.

Tensions were high between the pair throughout; there was a lot of jostling and butting in the clinches and at the end of the third, Eubank landed a hard right hand after the bell had gone, raising those tensions still further.

Williams had more success in the third round and carried that momentum into the fourth, only to take yet another stiff left which scored a knockdown. Despite this setback, he was able to come on strongly in the following rounds and seized advantage at times as Eubank seemed to tire.

For the next five rounds, Williams had his best successes of the fight, with Eubank on the back foot and throwing less than he had in the preceding rounds. Going to the body paid dividends for Williams repeatedly and Eubank looked to have felt more than one of those thudding body blows.

No dismay from Eubank though; he showboated and gurned his way around the ring, mocking Williams and taunting him while staying frustratingly out of reach. As one spirited exchange ended round six, Eubank ended with a little pat on the behind for Williams, as if congratulating the efforts of a schoolboy footballer.

With Eubank playing defensive in this middle portion of the fight, Williams went looking for the knockdowns he needed. They were nowhere to be found though; Eubank had a superb uppercut counter waiting for Williams’ more enthusiastic forward ventures, though he did get caught himself with some solid 1-2 and right hand efforts.

His successes came undone in the eleventh round though as he took yet another blow – this time a right hand – which put him down for a count. With the fight now completely out of Williams’ reach unless he scored a clean knockout, Eubank spent the final round playing and showboating, giving Williams no chance of landing anything solid.

The result was inevitable: a unanimous decision win for Eubank on every card.

“I am happy with the performance, I wanted to teach that man a lesson, he said some quite menacing things to me in the lead-up to this fight,” Eubank said.

“I wanted to punish him – I didn’t want to knock him out in one round, I wanted to punish him.

“Headbutts, headlocks… I am surprised he didn’t get disqualified. But I took it like a man and I punished him like I said I would. It was a fun night. I think I showed some of my critics a different side to me.

“There was no danger, if I had stepped on the gas at any point in the fight he would have been gone. There are levels to this game. Don’t be a big mouth against guys you can get hurt against.”

Chris Eubank Jr def Liam Williams, Unanimous Decision, R12 (116-109, 116-108, 117-109)

FIGHT #7

10 x 2 Mins WBC/WBA/IBF World Middleweight Titles

CLARESSA SHIELDS v EMA KOZIN 

Claressa Shields retained her collection of world titles – and her claims to ‘GWOAT’ status – when she outclassed challenger Ema Kozin over ten rounds, coming very close to stopping the fight at times.

Machine-gunning flurries of straights and then hitting the body with hooks, Shields was punishing Kozin through the fight. Kozin was hurt several times but hung in there, despite Shields increasingly going for broke in search of the stoppage.

“I thought there were plenty of moments where the referee should have stopped it,” Shields said. “I give myself an A-. The only thing I didn’t do was get the damn knockout!

“She took six, seven, eight shots without responding. I thought her corner might have stopped it.”

After the bout concluded, Shields’ arch-rival Savannah Marshall was on hand to offer her some robust criticism. “If you perform like that against me, I’ll absolutely wipe the floor with you,” she told her American antagonist.

Shields responded with vitriol, resulting in an exchange of words between the pair ringside, live on Sky Sports.

If Marshall successfully defends her WBO title later this year, the stage will be set for the two to face off at last.

Marshall is the only fighter in the world to hold a win over Shields, from their amateur days, and a rematch in the professional ranks would be perhaps the biggest fight in the history of women’s boxing.

Claressa Shields def. Ema Kozin, Unanimous Decision (100-90, 100-90, and 100-90)

FIGHT #6

6 x 2 Mins Lightweight Contest

CAROLINE DUBOIS WPTS8 (60-54) VAIDA MASIOKAITE

Top prospect Caroline Dubois entered the professional ranks in style, dominating valiant journeywoman Vaida Masiokaite over six rounds to secure the first win of what promises to be a standout professional career.

“As debuts go, what a statement. She hasn’t boxed since the Olympics and this was a new experience. There were nerves. She handled it amazingly,” said her trainer Shane McGuigan, son of all-time great Barry McGuigan.

FIGHT #5

8 x 3 Mins Welterweight Contest

CHRIS JENKINS WPTS8 (58-56) v JULIUS INDONGO

The evening’s first Welshman to enter the ring, local man Jenkins got raucous support from the partisan crowd when he entered the ring. He rewarded them with a tough and gritty display, out-working Indongo despite suffering a suspected broken hand at some point during the fight.

FIGHT #4

6 x 3 Mins Heavyweight Contest

SHANE GILL WPTS6 (58-56) STEVE ROBINSON 

Steve ‘USSR’ Robinson suffered a shock loss to Shane Gill in a tough six-rounder. Despite controlling the bout early on, Gill came on strong in the mid rounds and rocked Robinson with some heavy shots.

FIGHT #3

8 x 3 Mins Heavyweight Contest

OTTO WALLIN WPTS8 (79-74) KAMIL SOKOLOWSKI

Swedish heavyweight contender Otto Wallin, featuring on the show via Salita Promotions, defeated Poland’s tough Kamil Sokolowski on points on his British debut. Nearly upsetting Tyson Fury in September 2019, Wallin is looking to get into the World heavyweight title scene

FIGHT #2

10 x 3 Mins English Welterweight Championship

SAMUEL ANTWI WPTS10 (96-95, 96-94 97 94) CONAH WALKER 

In an early contender for domestic fight of the year, Samuel Antwi and Conah Walker went toe-to-toe in brutal and riveting encounter for the English Welterweight title. The pair exchanged hard blows for ten rounds with the action going back and forth through the fight. In the end Antwi retained his English title by decision with close scores.

FIGHT #1

8 x 3 Mins Super-Lightweight Contest

HARLEM EUBANK WRTD5 VIOREL SIMION

The Eubank family got off to a winning start with Chris’ cousin Harlem defeating Viorel Simion by fifth round retirement. Eubank looked good from the start moving well and throwing some eye catching combinations. In the fifth Eubank upped the pace and landed some hurtful body shots to Simion that forced his corner to withdraw him.

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Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff

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Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)Boxen247.com YouTube Channel

Chris Eubank Jr. vs.  Liam Williams

Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales – 5 February 2022

(Weigh-in held at Park Inn, Cardiff, Wales)

Ahead of this Saturday’s massive BOXXER: Fight Night at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, headlined by Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams and Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin, all the boxers’ on the show weighed in today at the Park Inn, Cardiff.

The boxer’s did not face-off for the media and fans at this time, they will participate in the Face-Off at 5pm today at the City Hall, Cardiff, which is open for media and fans to capture the boxers’ as they go face-to-face for the final time.

UNDERCARD WEIGHTS

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

10 x 3 mins English Welterweight Championship

SAMUEL ANTWI

10st 6lb 5oz (146.5lb)

vs.

CONAH WALKER

10st 6lb (146lb)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

8 x 3 mins Welterweight Contest

CHRIS JENKINS

10st 9lb (149lb)

vs.

JULIUS INDONGO

10st 6lb 5oz (146.5lb)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

8 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight Contest

RHYS EDWARDS

9st 1lb (127lb)

vs.

RUSLAN BERCHUK  

8st 13lb (125lb)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

6 x 3 mins Heavyweight Contest

STEVE ROBINSON

17st 4lb 5oz (242.5lb)

vs.

SHANE GILL

18st (252lbs)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

6 x 2 mins Lightweight Contest

CAROLINE DUBOIS

9st 12lbs 4oz (138.4lbs)

vs.

VAIDA MASIOKAITE

9st 12lb (138lb)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

6/8 x 3 Super-Lightweight Contest

HARLEM EUBANK

10st 1lb 5oz (141.5lb)

vs.

VIOREL SIMION

9st 13lb 5oz (139.5lb)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

8 x 3 mins Heavyweight Contest

OTTO WALLIN

18st 1lb 5oz (253.5lb)

vs.

KAMIL SOKOLOWSKI

16st 10lb 5oz (234.5)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

MAIN EVENT WEIGHTS

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

12 x 3 mins Middleweight Contest

CHRIS EUBANK JR.

11st 6lbs (160lbs)

vs.

LIAM WILLIAMS  

11st 5lbs (159lbs)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

10 x 2 mins WBC/WBA/IBF/WBF Female Middleweight Championship of the World

CLARESSA SHIELDS

11st 5lbs (159lbs)

vs.

EMA KOZIN  

11st 5lbs 5oz (159.5lbs)

Eubank Jr. vs. Williams undercard weights (& main event) from Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

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Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Williams, Claressa Shields & Ema Kozin weighs

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Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Williams, Claressa Shields & Ema Kozin weights | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Williams, Claressa Shields & Ema Kozin weights | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)Boxen247.com YouTube Channel

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams

Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales – 5 February 2022

(Weigh-in held at Park Inn, Cardiff, Wales)

Ahead of this Saturday’s massive BOXXER: Fight Night at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, headlined by Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams and Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin, all the boxers’ on the show weighed in today at the Park Inn, Cardiff.

The boxer’s did not face-off for the media and fans at this time, they will participate in the Face-Off at 5pm today at the City Hall, Cardiff, which is open for media and fans to capture the boxers’ as they go face-to-face for the final time.

Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Williams, Claressa Shields & Ema Kozin weights | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

12 x 3 mins Middleweight Contest

CHRIS EUBANK JR.

11st 6lbs (160lbs)

vs.

LIAM WILLIAMS  

11st 5lbs (159lbs)

Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Williams, Claressa Shields & Ema Kozin weights | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

10 x 2 mins WBC/WBA/IBF/WBF Female Middleweight Championship of the World

CLARESSA SHIELDS

11st 5lbs (159lbs)

vs.

EMA KOZIN  

11st 5lbs 5oz (159.5lbs)

Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Williams, Claressa Shields & Ema Kozin weights | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

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Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes

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Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)Boxen247.com YouTube Channel

Chris Eubank Jr vs. Liam Williams 

Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales – 5 February 2022

Chris Eubank Jr 
I didn’t spend a year and a half on a farm with chickens and snakes and raccoons training for nothing. We’re on our way to cleaning up the middleweight division and Liam Williams is the next man in front of me.

I’m going to take him out. All that matters is what’s going to happen on the night and that’s me standing over him and looking down and raising my fists as he gets counted out. It’s going to be a hell of a fight.

Liam Williams 
It’s an unbelievable opportunity to fight here in Cardiff in such a high level fight against Chris. I’m just so excited to put an end to this guy, drop him down a few levels. You’ll realise his his level after this fight.

He’s mentally tough, he takes a good shot, but his his legs are very robotic. He moves like he’s got wooden legs. I just think my skill set is a lot better. We’re going to find out on a Saturday.

I believe I believe I’ve got the power to stop him and knock him out. Whether I will or not, I don’t know because it’s going to be one of them top fights it’s going to be it’s gonna be very intense, but I do hope to knock him out.

Roy Jones Jr, Trainer, Chris Eubank Jr
There’s a difference between good fighters and great fighters. When you can change those gears and go to that next level, that makes you a great fighter and that’s what I’ve seen in Chris Eubank Jr.

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO and founder
We are now days away from what has to be one of the British biggest British grudge matches we’ve seen in a long time. Everything is on the line for both fighters.

We know Chris has his world title ambitions very, very firmly in his head. But he must come through Liam Williams, and this fight is everything for him – imagine a fighter coming to his hometown in front of these Cardiff fans. No one can call it. Everyone is anticipating this fight. I can’t wait.

Kalle Sauerland, Wasserman Boxing, promoter of Chris Eubank Jr
It kicks off what is a fantastic February for British boxing. This is a fight that leads us to the next level, that level of the Golovkin’s, that level of the World Championships.

This is not looking past Liam, I think he’s gonna bring a very tough fight on Saturday night. I think it’s gonna be a treat for the fans. Chris is not afraid of the Dragon’s Lair and I think we’re going to see a grandstand performance.

Dmitry Salita, promoter, Claressa Shields
It’s a great honour to work with Sky Sports and BOXXER and Ben Shalom. It’s been a great experience and the reception of fans and the media has just been so much love and support for Claressa. We have a stern test ahead of us on Saturday night but I know that Claressa is going to be successful and put an explosive performance.

Claressa Shields
I want to thank God first, I want to thank everybody that’s here: my promoter Dimitri Salita, my manager Mark Taffett, my coaches. It’s been a really good camp and I’m excited to be here for multiple reasons.

And I’ll break it down for you quick: one, beat up Ema Kozin and then beat up your [UK] favourite Savannah Marshall and go home. That’s why I’m here. So February 5 is the beginning.

Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck) Eubank vs. Williams press conference photos and quotes | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

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Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery

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Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Boxen247.com YouTube Channel

(All photo’s  Lawrence Lustig / Boxxer) 

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams fight card open workout photo gallery | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

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Shields shares training details incl. with all-time great Floyd Mayweather

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Shields shares training details incl. with all-time great Floyd Mayweather | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Shields shares training details incl. with all-time great Floyd Mayweather | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)Boxen247.com YouTube Channel

Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin

Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in Wales, UK – 5 February 2022

Boxing superstar Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields shared details from her training with all-time great Floyd Mayweather as she nears her WBC/WBA/IBF middleweight world championship defense against #1 ranked challenger Ema Kozin taking place Saturday, February 5 live on pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada.

(Photo  credit: Sean Jorgensen/Salita Promotions)

Shields will step into the ring as the co-main event in her U.K. debut as a professional, returning to the region The four-fight PPV card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT and features star U.K. middleweights Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Williams meeting in the main event.

Guided by Salita Promotions, Shields signed a lucrative multi-fight deal with promoter Boxxer and broadcaster SKY Sports in the U.K. that has put her on the path toward a super fight showdown with WBO Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall in 2022.
where she won the first of her two gold medals.

Here is what Shields had to say her experience in Las Vegas training with Floyd Mayweather:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“The main reason for going to Las Vegas was to get some altitude training. Cardiff has some altitude like Las Vegas, and there’s no altitude in Flint. I wanted to have my lungs feel that burn. I ran at 10,000 feet of elevation.

“The opportunity with Mayweather just kind of presented itself. Floyd heard I was coming and he opened up his gym to me and my team. It was great to see him spar and be in his presence. It was great to talk to him too and really see what he’s like.

“It’s great to hear that he’s a huge fan of me and that him and his kids like to watch my fights. It was a great experience overall.

“Floyd told me I was going in the right direction. Not a lot of U.S. fans get to have the experience of going to see what fans in the U.K. are like. He told me a lot about his experience fighting Ricky Hatton.

“We talked a lot about my skills, but also about the difference between amateurs and pros. In the pros you really have to stay calm and take your time. Even in two minute rounds, he was telling me to slow down and really see those shots coming.

“Floyd’s in great shape. He was sparring a 21-year-old for eight rounds and he wasn’t even always taking breaks between rounds. He can still do whatever he wants to do inside that ring. If he wanted to, he’d give all those guys problems at 147 and 154. From what I saw, his legs and his motor are still working.”

Claressa Shields Las Vegas Workout Quotes & Photos

Shields has moved her training camp to Las Vegas as she prepares for the altitude she’ll experience when stepping into the ring at Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in Wales for her U.K. debut as a pro. The four-fight PPV card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT and features star U.K. middleweights Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Williams meeting in the main event.

Guided by Salita Promotions, Shields signed a lucrative multi-fight deal with promoter Boxxer and broadcaster SKY Sports in the U.K. that has put her on the path toward a super fight showdown with WBO Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall in 2022.

Shields met with media Tuesday at Mayweather Boxing Club, where she is conducting training in Las Vegas, and discussed adding co-trainer Gerald Tucker to her team and more. Here is what Shields, and her promoter Dmitriy Salita, had to say:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

On adding co-trainer Gerald Tucker to her team, joining longtime coach John David Jackson:

“I just wanted some new eyes in my camp. I’ve always wanted two different coaches with two different styles in my corner. He fits into my team perfectly.

“Gerald works with Floyd Mayweather, so he brings a different kind of boxing conditioning. He does the pads differently than how I’ve ever done them. We’re able to add some things and my coaches are totally in sync.”

On a potential showdown with Savannah Marshall:

“I’ve never focused on Savannah. She’s been focused on me. If you watch her interviews, she’s always talking about Claressa Shields. I’m definitely happy that the fight with her is getting closer. They’re going to see why I’m a 12-time champion. There is just a huge difference in what we can do as fighters.”

On making her U.K. debut as a professional (Shields won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic games in London):

“I feel like I’m returning to my old stomping grounds. I’m excited to perform and show everyone in the U.K. how I’ve gotten better as a fighter. When they saw me in the Olympics, I was still a teenager.

“I don’t think they’ve seen my style of boxing over there yet. I’m bringing my ferociousness and my swag. I’m going to show them why I’m pound-for-pound. They should all come out and watch this fight, because I’m building all kinds of new strength and power.”

On switching from MMA training camps back to boxing:

“The mental part is the biggest thing for me. I definitely enjoy learning MMA, so when I’m back to boxing, I have to make that switch back to knowing I just have my left and my right hands. My preference is still boxing training though. I’m still getting better and learning more, even with all I’ve accomplished in boxing so far.”

DMITRIY SALITA, President Of Salita Promotions

“Claressa is taking this fight very seriously and is leaving no stone unturned in her preparations. From her work in the gym, to adding Gerald Tucker to her already excellent corner, which includes one of the best trainers in the sport in John David Jackson, I really think this is one of the best training camps of her career.

“I look forward to a statement-making performance against the undefeated and very capable Ema Kozin on Saturday, February 5. All of this hard work is being put in en route to the biggest fight in woman’s boxing history against Savannah Marshall.”

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Shields focused on beating Ema Kozin – Mayweather coming to Cardiff

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Shields focused on beating Ema Kozin - Mayweather coming to Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)

Shields focused on beating Ema Kozin - Mayweather coming to Cardiff | Boxen247.com (Kristian von Sponneck)Boxen247.com YouTube Channel

Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin

Cardiff, Wales, UK – 5 February 2022

American star Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, 11-0 (2), is leaving no stones unturned ahead of her WBF, IBF, WBC, WBA Middleweight unification fight against Ema Kozin, 21-0-1 (11), on February 5 in Cardiff, Wales.

The IBF, WBC and WBA titlist has prepared diligently, and revealed during this weeks virtual press-conference that she has been training at Floyd Mayweather´s gym in Las Vegas, with the man himself watching and giving her advice.

Mayweather, who considers himself “The Best Ever”, will even be traveling to Wales for the fight, in support of the self-proclaimed “Greatest Woman of all Time”.

“My confidence was already high, but training with Floyd Mayweather and getting his advice has made it go through the roof”, Shields explained.

“Ema is 21-0, but she has not fought at my level, and even though I only have eleven pro fights experience is also on my side”, said the two-time Olympic gold medalist who went 77-1 in the unpaid ranks.

Making her fourth World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Middleweight title-defense on February 5, Slovenian Kozin is full of confidence herself, and, while humble, not in awe of her super star opponent, saying:

“I have never been better than I am now, and of course I believe I can defeat Claressa. I have a great team, I have had a great training camp, and I will show many new areas of my skill-set in this fight.”

Kozin finished the press-conference by wishing Shields good luck and safe travels, prompting the American to respond:

“Ema, I don’t need your luck and I am going to destroy you on February 5. I am going to make you call me the G.W.O.A.T. inside the ring…”

Kozin vs. Shields, for the WBF, IBF, WBC and WBA World Middleweight titles on February 5 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, will be the co-feature of a show promoted by Boxxer, along with Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams.

Sky Sports will televise in the UK, while various outlets will broadcast world-wide.

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