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Savannah Marshall was an undisputed boxing champion, but expects her next fight to be in MMA; Marshall will also be on a scouting mission to watch her great rival Claressa Shields’ next bout in PFL and insists if they fought in four-ounce MMA gloves, the outcome would be different

Savannah Marshall’s pursuit of Claressa Shields continues in a second sport.

Shields and Marshall are fierce rivals, who boxed as amateurs and had an outstanding undisputed world title fight as professional boxers.

Marshall lost by unanimous decision but has long called for a rematch with the American.

Even though both have made their names as pro boxers, and will continue their respective boxing careers, both have also signed with MMA promotion PFL.

Marshall will go on a scouting mission to make sure she has a front-row seat to watch Shields’ next bout in PFL.

“I’m going to be there cageside, having a look, sizing her up,” Marshall told Sky Sports.

Claressa Shields beats Savannah Marshall in historic fight to unify world  titles | CNN

That is exactly what Marshall wants.

“I come up short in the boxing so I want another stab, so why not in a new sport altogether,” the Briton said.

She does think that their attributes will match up differently in an MMA contest with Shields.

“I really do. I’m interested to see how much she’s come on,” Marshall said. “I really want to see how she’s improved if she has.

“For anyone to switch sports takes a lot of guts, especially from what she’s achieved in her boxing career.

“She’s striving for greatness, isn’t she? So all the best to her and I think she’s taken her speed over to PFL so I’m sure she’ll do big things.”

Marshall does hit hard and believes that against Shields her punches will be even more effective in the small MMA gloves.

Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall fight provisionally postponed to  October 15 | Boxing News | Sky Sports

“Well, I’ve got to land first which is something that I didn’t do in boxing but little four-ounce gloves, they’re practically half the size. So definitely, a lot more damage to be inflicted,” she said with a smile.

“When you put them on and there’s nothing in them at all and you think, wow, these are dangerous.”

Marshall is training diligently at a mixed martial arts gym. She now expects to fight next in an MMA contest in the summer and only box again later in the year.

“I was hoping to fight in March [in] boxing but unfortunately that hasn’t come off so I’ll be fighting in June making my MMA debut with the PFL,” she said.

“It’s looking like the back end of the year now [for her next boxing bout], just as long as I get out before the end of the year I’ll be happy.”

While MMA is entirely new to her, Marshall insists she is enjoying the experience.

Claressa Shields v Savannah Marshall LIVE: Relive round-by-round commentary  and post-fight interviews - Live - BBC Sport

“Sometimes in training, I feel good and I think yeah I’m getting it now and other times I’m getting tapped like that and I think: ‘Jesus I am terrible at this.’ It’s exciting for me because it’s new,” she said.

“It’s BJJ, you’ve got kickboxing, you’ve got judo, wrestling so it’s a mix of all these different sports that I’ve never ever tried.”

Even getting taken down in sparring hasn’t phased her.

“They were just shooting straight for me and I couldn’t even see them coming because I wasn’t used to it,” she said.

“At the start, I was just overwhelmed by it. Now as the weeks have gone on I can look back and think right I was making so many mistakes at the start. Now I’m not.

“It’s exciting, it’s new, it’s something that I’m really interested in.”

Keith Thurman will take on Tim Tszyu on March 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, he has more than one adversary lined up, wanting to fight him. In a recent pinch, the undefeated goat of female boxing, Claressa Shields, once again fired shots at the former unified welterweight champion during an interview.

The update comes after the duo clashed heads previously in August of last year. Shields had claimed that she could fight and defeat Thurman – no problem. And ‘Onetime’ Thurman had responded by accepting the challenge, provided his conditions were met for the bout! However, nothing ever came out of it! Nevertheless, as Thurman’s return to the ring after two years inches closer, Shields has a few more verbal jabs for Thurman as she predicts a knockout win for Tszyu.

Shields claims she is better than Keith Thurman in every way

While appearing in an interview with Million Dollaz Worth Of Game, the Flint area native doubled down on her view of Keith Thurman. She refused to believe that Thurman, who was once a world champion, was that great of a boxer. She stated, “Thurman is not that great of a boxer. Is he strong? Yes. But what else?”

Claressa Shields has started training camp for mooted intergender fight  with Keith Thurman

Meanwhile, in light of Thurman’s upcoming showdown in March, Shields had a prediction ready, and, of course, Thurman would not like it! “Tim Tszyu’s gonna knock Thurman’s ass out,” said Shields. She then goes on to lord over her superior skills over the former champion and a male boxer, who has only tasted defeat once, and that too at the hands of the legendary Manny Pacquiao.

“I’m a woman, but I’m bigger than Thurman, I’m longer, I’ve got better skills. How’s he gonna take the punches I give him? Thurman can’t take a body shot. You’re talking to a boxing encyclopedia,” said Shields. However, it’s worth highlighting that Thurman had agreed to fight her under some conditions! Here are those conditions.

Thurman doesn’t believe Claressa Shields is a threat

After Shields had made her initial call out to Thurman over X last year, ‘Onetime’ spoke to Sporting News, responding to the callout! “I did not see it [the tweet], but I’ve already got text messages all about it,” said Thurman. He continued, “Look, I can fight for any charity event. We can raise money and let you try to showcase your skills and talent.”

🚨 Claressa Shields starts camp for Keith Thurman fight, but he's called  out P4P star

Later, he proceeded to list his conditions to fight a female in the ring if it were possible to begin with. “I’d probably use my jab only…for the people and for charity, I would make something like that happen…I would wear bigger gloves. I would let her wear smaller gloves. I would let her wear headgear, too,” said Thurman.

With Thurman preparing to enter the ring after two years, do you think that the comments from Claressa Shields hold weight; or is it just another publicity stunt? Realistically – if the two parties ever fought, who do you think would win?

Mike Tyson’s boxing skills are the stuff of legend, and a recent clip of ‘Iron Mike’ hitting the pads has left fans shocked at his speed and power, even at the ripe old age of 57. The clip has been making the rounds on X/Twitter and has drawn significant attention, most of it positive.

While short, it consists of Tyson storming forward, landing combinations on his trainer’s mits and padded body. Despite his advanced age, the near-60-year-old Tyson looks just as ferocious as he did in his youth, leading to an outpouring of praise from the fans.

Some, though, opted to praise Tyson’s trainer, who the more perceptive and seasoned fans will recognize as Kings MMA founder Rafael Cordeiro, who famously guided Rafael dos Anjos to UFC lightweight championship glory.

Mike Tyson says he 'died' while using psychedelic toad venom

Tyson famously staged a comeback in an exhibition bout nearly four years ago when he took on legendary pugilist Roy Jones Jr. While the fight was officially scored a draw, many were impressed with how sharp, fast, and powerful Tyson looked.

Mike Tyson’s age when he first became a heavyweight champio

At the tender age of 20 years old, four months and 22 days, Mike Tyson authored one of the greatest performances in heavyweight boxing history. He demolished Trevor Berbick within two rounds, TKO’ing him to capture the WBC heavyweight championship to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history.

The record still stands to this day, with no one yet able to eclipse Tyson’s achievements in the division. Exactly how long Tyson’s record will stand remains a point of interest for boxing fans who await the arrival of the next great heavyweight sensation.

There have been talks about a fight between eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) and the undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs). If Pacquiao’s trainer is to be believed, ‘Pacman’ will soon be ready for the potential showdown.

Justin Fortune, Pacquiao’s former strength and conditioning coach, was in an interview with Lucky Block. In conversation, he mentioned that he is not interested in seeing a rematch between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) and instead wishes to see him face Crawford.

“That’s a massive payday, and guess what, it’s a 50-50 fight. Manny has a 50 percent chance of winning because he’s still a freak athlete, and it wouldn’t take much to pull him into shape,” he said. “The power he has is a gift from God, he hasn’t lost his power. Manny has never ducked anyone. He’s always fought the best, and not saying Mayweather’s not the best, but he’s old. I’d prefer Manny to come back and prove himself against a current world champion like Crawford.”

Fortune stated that pulling Pacquiao back into shape would not be an issue. However, he added they’d have to work on his speed and explosivity. “He was a gym rat. I could pull him back into shape for Crawford in eight weeks. Of course, we’ll need to know when to push him or pull back because of his age,” Fortune mentioned.

Manny Pacquiao vs Terence Crawford 2021 MEGA-FIGHT - YouTube

Pacquiao’s last professional fight was in 2021, when he fought Yordenis Ugas (27-6, 12 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. However, he lost the fight via decision. Meanwhile, he is all set to face Muay Thai superstar Buakaw Banchamek (242-24-14, 73 KOs) in April.

The only way to “become greater”

Pacquiao’s team might not be the only one eyeing a Crawford fight. In fact, Teofimo Lopez has been vocal about fighting the champ. Lopez had previously taken a dig at Crawford, an action that ‘Bud’ expressed his displeasure to. In a later interview with SkySports, Lopez opened up about his thoughts on a potential Crawford fight.

Terence Crawford Targets Manny Pacquiao After Saturday's Brook Fight

“I’m the biggest cat in the world, absolutely, and because of that, we face fighters, great champions, and I look forward to facing a fighter like him,” he mentioned. “Because that’s what ‘The Takeover’ is. What would I be if I didn’t do these things? Who would I be if I didn’t face the best? That is the only way I become greater.”

Canelo Alvarez has ruled out a fight with Terence Crawford.

‘Bud’ has been loudly calling for an eagerly anticipated clash with Canelo since knocking out Errol Spence to become the undisputed welterweight champion in July 2023.

Fans have been talking up the potential meeting between two of boxing’s pound-for-pound best, despite the fact the super middleweight king is almost 20lbs heavier than Crawford.

Canelo recently revealed his next fight will take place on May 4 in Las Vegas.

The 33-year-old didn’t say who his opponent was but did claim it would be an American, leaving the door open for a potential scrap with Crawford.

However, he has now distanced himself from the fight entirely.

“No,” Canelo said when Box Azteca asked if he would fight Crawford.

Terence Crawford: No.1 Boxer Saul Canelo Alvarez Avoids Black Fighters

Canelo’s interviewer pointed out that the Mexican superstar could make a lot of money by taking the fight, but he doesn’t think Crawford is worth the hassle.

He said: “Yes, but they’re going to criticise me… and that’s it, they love it.

“They criticised me because I fought [Jermell] Charlo who gained weight, who is bigger than me, because I’m a small fighter for these weights, and because he gained weight, but they didn’t criticise him when I went up in weight.

“So now if you imagine Crawford as a welterweight. 168lbs, I have everything to lose and nothing to gain because if I win, they’ll say, ‘Oh, he was too small, and everything!”

Jermall Charlo, the twin brother of Canelo’s most recent opponent, appears to be the frontrunner to face him next, but he has given mixed messages about the bout so far.

He recently took to his Instagram story where he shared a picture of the four-weight champion, with the caption reading: “Canelo fighting Jermall Charlo May 4.”

Canelo Alvarez branded as 'delusional' as Terence Crawford snaps back over  comments about his record | talkSPORT

Speaking to the camera while out on the sea, unbeaten Charlo, who outpointed Jose Benavidez Jr in November, told his fans: “I haven’t even talked to [manager] Al Haymon since I last fought.

“So everybody that keeps talking about, ‘Oh you’re about to fight Canelo,’ – ain’t no confirmation. I’m in the islands somewhere! You’ve got to chill out.”

He then insisted: “Until it’s official, it’s official. I offered. I said I would do whatever I gotta do. We was on the jet skis, I stopped for this.”

Especially after Alvarez ruled out Crawford as a potential opponent.

A weighty topic consuming boxing these days is who should be Gervonta Davis’ next opponent.

“Tank” currently competes as a lightweight but has previously fought at 140 pounds and it’s been said by his camp that he could even still make 130 pounds.

There is no scarcity for top-shelf opponents Davis could face. Chief among them are lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomachenko and super lightweights Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez Jr.

In recent weeks, Davis has even been open to fighting Conor Benn, who last fought at 150 pounds and 154 pounds before that. 

Hall of Fame fighter and former four-division champion Roy Jones Jr. was the pound-for-pound king during his heyday and knows first hand giving up size advantages. Jones famously stepped up from light heavyweight to heavyweight in 2003, competed at a 33-pound disadvantage as a 193 fighter to score a unanimous decision win against John Ruiz for the title.

“Tank has been doing a great job of what he’s been doing, so he doesn’t have to call anyone’s name. He’s fine because he’s must-see TV by himself. That’s what you want to be able to be,” Jones told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “If you’re must-see TV by yourself, it doesn’t matter who you fight. The rest of those guys need him. He doesn’t need them. So, for him he can fight whoever he wants to fight.

Haney Responds: "Truth Be Told I Beat The Shit Out Of Tank"

 

“Yeah, they’re going to demand that he fights some names soon, but in the meanwhile, he fights whoever he wants to fight because why? He’s must-see TV, no matter who he’s in there against.

“You want to see him fight Shakur. Yeah, you want to see him fight Haney. Haney is probably going to outgrow him. Shakur ain’t going to be far behind that because [Davis] is short, and they’re not.

“So, if he’s going to fight one of them, he better hurry up and do it now because the longer he waits, the more it weighs in their favor. They’re both going to get bigger than him. So, maybe he’ll go and fight Loma. They’re both still at 135. Why not go and fight Loma now? I don’t know. Tank is a very difficult guy to deal with. He’s got a lot of weapons and a lot of tools.”

Davis last fought in April and knocked out Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound catchweight clash.

Davis On Haney & Stevenson: "Them Ni**as Can't Touch Me"

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.

Why hasn’t the boxing world seen Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis in the ring together yet? Bill Haney drops a bombshell on The MMA Hour, hinting at an “ultimate grudge match” brewing beneath the surface. Oddly, despite their paths almost crossing in the past, something always stops the fight from finalizing.

Is it fear, money, or something more peculiar? Bill speaks up. With a history of near-misses and heated exchanges, this potential showdown is shrouded in intrigue. What’s really holding back the clash of these titans?

Bill Haney didn’t mince words about the anticipated fight between Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis. “I mean, the ultimate grudge match is Tank himself,” he declared. According to Bill, the boxing community has begun to question the delay, pushing for clarity and action. “I know that you guys, the leading professionals in the industry, have now started to say, okay, what’s the problem then? And I love it,” he shared.

Furthermore, Bill Haney dismissed the usual barriers cited for not finalizing the fight. “They’re running out of excuses about the money and the popularity and all these other things,” he confidently stated. Bill conveyed how the ongoing situation has affected him. “I told him, you got to deal with him now or you’re going to deal with him later,” he recounted, signaling a warning or perhaps a prophecy about the inevitable clash.

Gervonta Davis: “There's no place else for Tank to hide or run” - Devin  Haney's father unleashes verbal barrage to bait Gervonta Davis into mega  fight

His tone then shifted to a lighter note, revealing the positive impact of his son’s success on their lives. “My suits are getting more nicer, I’m smiling more better, and I don’t look like I’m going nowhere,” he said. Bill Haney’s words on The MMA Hour serve as a powerful statement of intent and a call to action for Gervonta Davis’ camp.

In the same interview, he listed how the Saudis wanted to make this fight happen.

Bill Haney revealed the lengths to which negotiations had gone, involving none other than Saudi Arabia’s royal advisor, Turki Alalshikh. “Well, we got it close enough that his excellency Turki Alalshikh came on board,” Haney disclosed. The negotiations took a peculiar turn when “Tank suggested that he be given or sent some couple Ferraris,” a demand that seemed to test the limits of generosity.

Bill Haney recounted, “Turki Alalshikh himself said that he would only be sending gloves to the Tank Davis team.” This stark refusal marked the collapse of talks, with the fight’s fate sealed by unmet extravagant demands. Devin is now set to face Ryan Garcia on April 20, 2024. Whereas Davis hasn’t found an opponent yet.

Former Face of Boxing Didn't Want to Step Up”: Bill Haney Takes Sly Dig at Gervonta  Davis While Contemplating Settling for Ryan Garcia as the Next Opponent -  EssentiallySports

So, as we eagerly await the next development, one can’t help but wonder: What will it take for Haney and Davis to finally square off in the ring? Your thoughts on this are invaluable

Heavyweight contender Joseph Parker is not paying any attention to the statements from recent rival Deontay Wilder.

Back in December, Parker outboxed Wilder over twelve rounds to secure a dominant unanimous decision in a very unexpected outcome.

The victory derailed Wilder’s planned mega-fight with Anthony Joshua.

Wilder was coming back from a significant layoff, and he’d only see a single round of action in two years’ time.

On the other hand, Parker remained very active last year – with Wilder being his fourth ring appearance of 2023.

In a recent interview, Wilder claimed that his performance was affected by the tiresome travel to get himself over to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Parker shot down that explanation, citing the fact that many boxers have to go through strenuous travel experiences in the leadup to a fight.

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker: Live round-by-round updates - MMA Fighting

“Every fighter has to go through different things in camp. Before the Whyte camp, we locked in the fight then I flew 17 hours to Dubai, a three hour wait, then eight hours to Ireland to start my training camp,” Parker said to IFL TV.

“I was jet-lagged for a week, it’s what a fighter goes through, good or not it is what it is. It’s all part of trying to prepare for a fight. I’m not sure where he’s coming from, he did travel back and forth, we had to do the promotion, there was a lot of time travelling.

“When I travelled to Saudi for the fight, jet lag is a real thing, but as a professional fighter and the team around you – you have to make the right decision about when you have to be there and allow yourself the time to adjust and get used to the time zone and wherever you’re fighting.”

Wilder’s future plans are unknown. Parker will return in a very dangerous fight against Chinese giant Zhilei Zhang, which is part of the anticipated card that features Anthony Joshua’s crossover boxing match with MMA veteran Francis Ngannou.

McGregor lost to Mayweather in his boxing debut when they fought in 2017 and the UFC legend has been warned he could suffer the same result in a MMA rematch

Conor McGregor has been told a UFC rematch against Floyd Mayweather wouldn’t be as one-sided as he thinks.

UFC legend McGregor crossed over to boxing for his professional debut in 2017 against former five-weight world champion Mayweather. The Irishman was stopped in the 10th round in a fight that sold 4.3million pay-per-view buys, with Mayweather taking home upwards of $100million whilst McGregor made over $30million.

Mayweather retired with a flawless record of 50-0 after the fight and McGregor has since shown interest in getting back in the ring. British boxing legend Carl Froch thinks despite Mayweather having no MMA experience at all, he could do more than hold his own against McGregor in the cage.

Conor McGregor: Floyd Mayweather in worst shape I've ever seen - Eurosport

“Once they start kicking you in the legs, getting close to you and taking you to the ground, I think you are bang in trouble,” Froch told talkBOXING. “But I don’t think it’s as much of a mismatch as people think it is. Especially Tony Bellew because he’s always talking about, ‘You haven’t got a chance. No way, no chance. That’s it, fight over. Boxer in a cage? No chance!’

 

“I’m like, [McGregor’s got] two arms, two legs, the geezer is smaller than me. In my own mind, I don’t think it’s such a mismatch. When Conor McGregor fought Mayweather, it was a mismatch because McGregor could only use his hands, and he’s not a boxer. Mayweather is – a fantastic one, one of the best ever.”

If you put Mayweather in a cage, does that all of a sudden become a total mismatch and Conor McGregor takes him out? I’d say no. I think Mayweather can sit behind his jab, still time him with a right hand and have a look at the feet. I’d love to see it to know for sure, but I don’t think it’s a one-sided whooping. Maybe I’m stupid.”

Floyd Mayweather defeats Conor McGregor by TKO in 10th round - ESPN

Mayweather has earned massive paydays for taking part in several exhibition fights against influencers and MMA fighters since his last professional fight. McGregor hasn’t fought in over two and a half years but is expected to make his UFC return against Michael Chandler later this year.

There have been so many debates on the issue. Fans have often asked, why don’t they duke it out in the ring and settle the argument once and for all? Unfortunately, the big question mark still looms over the latter point. The Devin Haney and then-Gervonta Davis (now Abdul Wahid) sparring story just doesn’t seem to show any signs of fading away.

The saga is almost eight years old now. Different versions abound across the social media world. Often, there are attempts to derive legitimacy through clips featuring veterans and individuals closely affiliated with boxers. One good example came up some time ago and it’s been gaining traction with each passing hour.

Trying his best to recollect, Floyd Mayweather Sr., standing beside Devin Haney, asked the pose of reporters, “What’s the guy’s name?” The reply came, “Gervonta Davis.” Appearing visibly confused, he juggled his memories. until something clicked. “Hey hey hey, I’am just gonna tell you, you know, tell you the truth.” The reporters also chorused, “Tell the truth, tell the truth.” But then once again, the former welterweight boxer-turned-trainer tried recalling the boxer’s name, who Haney fought amidst roaring laughter.

The answer remained the same: “Gervonta Davis…Tank…Tank.” Mayweather Sr. minced no words: “His a** already got whooped by Devin Haney.” But then this won’t be the first time Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s father came in support of his pupil.

Gervonta Davis incredibly calls out mentor Floyd Mayweather for a fight  after he trains his RIVAL Devin Haney – The US Sun | The US Sun

Fight Hub uploaded a video back in 2017. It shows Mayweather Sr. speaking about how he had put Devin Haney against then-Gervonta Davis.

The Others: Narratives and the Side

My son just he just told me…he’s just telling me about Tank……now he was everything about him. He goes he and as Davis did super good but I have to tell you this right here, he did super good but guess what I did?” he asked. One of the reporters guessed that he must have put one of his fighters against ‘Tank’. “Yes, I did,” said Mayweather Sr. “Who did you put? Devin Haney?” The reporter shot back. “You better believe it,” Mayweather Sr. responded.

When the reporter asked how the sparring went between the two, Mayweather Jr.’s father, expressing shock, called out such questions as preposterous. “It was a one-way deal it only one man controlled it, and that was Devin Haney.

However, it should be remembered that Floyd Mayweather Sr. had known Devin Haney since he was ten. Hence, in the eyes of many fans and followers, his comments could be perceived through a biased lens.

Devin Haney challenges Gervonta 'Tank' Davis: "You're a p---y." | Marca

Then, of course, there’s always the other side. One of the clips often used to present the lightweight champion’s version is that of Adrien Broner’s. He described how he jumped in the ring when things took turns for the worst as Haney started taking hits from ‘Tank’. Last year, having had enough, even the man in question, Gervonta Davis reportedly (now Abdul Wahid), went on a tirade, lambasting those claiming that Haney stopped him.