Claressa Shields has ruled out a rematch with Savannah Marshall, saying she is “way past” that fight.
The long-running rivalry between the two began in the amateurs in 2011 and culminated in their 2022 undisputed middleweight clash, which Shields won by unanimous decision. Since then the two-time Olympic gold medallist has moved up and become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in women’s boxing.
“I’m way past a fight with Savannah,” Shields told Sky Sports. “The way that I beat Savannah, unanimous decision. I think that there’s better competition out there, like a Mikaela Mayer, like a Lauren Price, who is an Olympic champion from Great Britain. I would love to fight against those girls.”
Shields accused Marshall of building her profile on their early amateur meeting and on the loss to Shields. “I think that Savannah has used my name for a very long time to build herself. She’s lived off the amateur win that happened when I was 16 or 17. She lived off of it and then when we fought I destroyed her,” Shields said. “She thought she was going to come to the US and fight Shadasia [Green] and win, and lost. And now she’s lost on what to do. But she should be focused on fighting girls who she can actually beat. Because she can’t beat me.”
Shields defends her heavyweight title against Franchon Crews-Dezurn at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on February 22 and expects to win. She said she would then face Shadasia Green before targeting fights with Mayer or Lauren Price, both current welterweight world champions. Price, like Shields, is an Olympic gold medallist at middleweight.
“I’m fighting Franchon in a little over two weeks. I reckon I’m going to do what I’m supposed to do and get the job done correctly, I will then fight against Shadasia Green and then after Shadasia Green it’s been talked of Mikaela Mayer fighting me at 163, 165lb. Same thing with Lauren Price. I’m willing to go down and fight those girls, if they’re really serious about it,” Shields said. “I’m willing to go down to 163, 165lb and make some of the biggest fights. But I’m not going to 160 without no belts.”
She also issued a warning to potential opponents about her work ethic and standards. “I’m not ever going to slow down and if these girls can’t keep up they’re just going to keep getting smoked. But that’s not my problem. My job is to work my hardest, train my smartest, diet right and fight the best. And I’ve been doing that now for nine years.”