Savannah Marshall came into this undisputed super middleweight contest against the reigning champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The atmosphere was electric as both fighters made their way to the ring. After the defeat against Claressa Shields, this is make or break for Marshall as she looks to become undisputed. Can the Hartlepool fighter become the super middleweight queen in front of a partisan crowd?
The fight capped the Boxxer card on Sky Sports, with Savannah Marshall becoming the undisputed super middleweight queen via a points decision Saturday night in Manchester.
Before the fight began, there was a surreal moment when Crews-Dezurn was roundly booed for her rendition of the American national anthem.
Round one began with Dezern looking to close the gap on Marshall. The English fighter stayed calm and looked to establish her jab. The American continued to apply pressure throughout the round, but neither landed anything clean. Round two began in a similar style with Dezurn looking to pressure Marshall. The Hartlepool-born fighter managed to establish her jab, with Crews-Dezurn continuing to come forward. Marshall ended the round well. Rounds three and four saw Marshall looking like the cleaner fighter, but the American continued to be the aggressor.
Crews-Dezurn began to have some joy at close quarters, but Marshall looks comfortable and in control when fighting at range behind her jab. This continued into round five, with Marshall’s work more eye-catching. The Hartlepool-born fighter will need to be aware of the big overhand right from her American counterpart as the fight continues into the second half of the fight. Marshall enjoyed to impress in round six, putting together some nice combinations. Round seven saw the impressive engine of Crews-Dezurn as she continued to come forward and enjoy success in close, and this continued into the eighth round with Marshall beginning to look tired.
As the bell sounded for the ninth round, it was now time for the championship rounds, and who wanted it more? Round nine saw some smart combinations from Marshall who produced the cleaner work. Crews-Dezurn‘s work rate was unbelievable as she continued to come forward in the ninth and at the beginning of the final round. Marshall continued to land the cleaner work close and at a distance – as the fight drew to a close.
As both fighters lined up to hear the judge’s scorecards, it was time to find out the undisputed champion and who earned a shot at the GWOAT Claressa Shields.
The judge’s scorecards read 95-95, 99-92 and 97-93 in favour of Marshall, who was the new undisputed super middleweight champion.
In the ring after the fight, Marshall felt she had done enough to win. “I was catching her with cleaner shots.”
When asked about the possible rematch with Shields, she said. “She can come and have a shot at super middleweight.”
It remains to be seen what’s next for Savannah Marshall, but this is her night to revel in undisputed glory.
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