Claressa Shields unified the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO middleweight titles against Savannah Marshall by unanimous decision after a thrilling 10-round show on Saturday at a packed stadium in London.
The judges gave the cards 96-94, 97-93 and 97-93 in favor of the 27-year-old American, who retains her perfect record of 13-0, including 2 KOs.
“It’s not just a special moment for me, it’s also for women’s boxing with the women who worked tonight as headliners; Savannah, Mikaela, Alycia…”, underlined the champion.
“There are so many great boxers who have come before us and paved the way, but it was our turn tonight, and I think it’s worthy of the fight of the year,” Shields added.
They started the fight furiously and Shields in particular with great velocity, but Marshall still responded with some powerful albeit very imprecise strikes as she looked for the big shot.
The latter had some of her best moments from the fifth and sixth rounds taking advantage of her size and with good body shots, but Shields was generally much more effective, varied and full of composure.
Shields was cut above her right eye in the eighth round of the rematch, 10 years after their first amateur bout, which Marshall (12-1, 10 KOs) won.
Baumgardner serves Mayer his first loss
Alycia Baumgardner inflicted Mikaela Mayer’s first career defeat by winning by split decision in the gala semi-finals.
Two judges handed cards 96-95 in favor of Baumgardner, the other was 97-93 in favor of Mayer.
Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KOs) already held the WBC belt in the category since dethroning top seed Terri Harper, but added those of the WBO and IBF.
“I worked so hard to be here. To those who doubted me, I told you I would make it,” Baumgardner said. “I threw the most powerful and precise blows, I cut her in the forehead. I dug deep inside to find a way to win. »