Claressa Shields has made it clear she has no interest in a rematch with Savannah Marshall, saying she is “way past” that chapter of her career. The long-running rivalry between the two began in the amateurs in 2011 and reached its peak in their 2022 undisputed middleweight fight, which Shields won by unanimous decision. Since then the two-time Olympic gold medallist has moved up in weight and become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in women’s boxing.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Shields said she sees tougher and more lucrative opponents outside the Marshall rematch. “I think that there’s better competition out there, like a Mikaela Mayer, like a Lauren Price,” she said, adding that she would welcome fights against those fighters.
Shields accused Marshall of building much of her profile from their early amateur meeting and from the loss to Shields in 2022. She suggested Marshall has relied on an amateur victory from when they were teenagers and then failed to back it up as a professional. Shields also referenced Marshall’s recent loss to Shadasia Green, saying Marshall had expected to beat Green but didn’t, and that she should be focused on opponents she can realistically beat. “She can’t beat me,” Shields said.
Looking ahead in her own schedule, Shields is set to defend her heavyweight title against Franchon Crews-Dezurn at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on February 22, a bout she expects to win. She plans to face Shadasia Green next and then pursue high-profile contests with the likes of Mikaela Mayer or Britain’s Lauren Price — both current welterweight world champions, with Price also an Olympic gold medallist at middleweight.
Shields said she is prepared to come down to 163–165 lb to make those big fights, but was firm that she would not drop to 160 lb without having belts on the line. “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 said.
She also issued a message to any prospective opponents about the standards they’d face in the ring: she won’t slow down, and if challengers can’t keep up they will get left behind. “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,” Shields said, underscoring her commitment to staying at the top of the sport.