Claressa Shields: First Ema Kozin, then long-awaited showdown with Savannah Marshall
Claressa Shields knows all the numbers surrounding her only loss in a boxing ring.
It came in her 26th amateur fight, at the World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China when she was 17. She then went 52-0 to finish at 77-1 in her amateur career, during which she won two Olympic gold medals. The score of the fight was 14-8, although she thought it should’ve been closer.
And she knows one more thing about the setback: Her wait to avenge it might be ending soon.
Shields recently signed a two-fight contract with the promotional company Boxxer and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom for the sole purpose of fighting fellow unbeaten professional Savannah Marshall of England, her conqueror a decade ago.
If she defeats Ema Kozin on Feb. 5 in Cardiff, Wales, the plan is to face Marshall in one of the biggest-possible fights in women’s boxing this summer.
“It was never about revenge,” Shields told Boxing Junkie. “I just always wanted to prove the fact that I’m better and the only way to do that is beat the person. … I want to prove to the world once again that I’m the best even though I suffered that loss.
“She caught me a little inexperienced. If we would’ve fought three months later [in the London Olympics], I would’ve beaten her. If was in the [next] world championships, I would’ve beat her.”
Shields doesn’t remember much about the loss, which occurred in the second round of the tournament. She recalled that beforehand she and many of the other U.S. boxers refrained from eating meat because of a rumor that it might be tainted, which threw her off.
And she remembers a close, competitive fight against a more-experienced and taller 21-year-old, who went on to win the gold medal.
“I didn’t feel like she beat me,” Shields said. “That’s why I always wanted a rematch, to show I could beat her, but it never happened.”
So much else has happened since then.
Shields and Marshall could’ve fought again in the London Games but Marshall lost in the quarterfinals and Shields went on to win the middleweight gold medal. The same thing happened in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Marshall losing in the quarters and Shields taking home gold to establish herself as a major star.
Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) has gone on to win major titles in three divisions as a professional and become arguably the No. 1 female fighter in the world.
Marshall (11-0, 9 KOs) also has become a world champion as a professional, stopping Hannah Rankin in October 2020 to win the WBO middleweight title. Shields used to hold that belt, which would give her a little extra motivation going into the fight. She still has the other major belts.
“Professional boxing is considered – especially with a world title on the line – more prestigious than the amateurs,” Shields said. “I’m going to beat her when it really counts.”
Of course, they must win interim fights before it could happen. Shields has Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KOs) meet in a few weeks and Marshall is expected to fight soon.
Shields, who is juggling careers in boxing and mixed martial arts, hasn’t boxed since she shut out overmatched Marie Eve Dicaire 11 months ago. And that was her only boxing match in more than two years.
However, she believes the Dicarie fight and two MMA fights last year – including her second loss in combat sports, a decision against Abigail Montes in October – have helped her to stay fit and sharp.
She says that will be obvious come fight time against Kozin, on whom she insists she’s focused even with the showdown against Marshall looming.
“I’ve never been focused on Savannah Marshall,” she said. “I want the fight, I’ve always wanted the fight … but I barely even think about her. I’m always focused on what’s in front of me. I’m going to go in their focused on Ema Kozin, on making sure I defend my titles in the U.K.
“Then I’ll look forward to what’s next. And it’s not far off.”
Why is the No. 1 women’s boxer willing to fight Kozin in Wales and also likely face Marshall in the U.K.?
“The reason I’m going over to the U.K. is to show the world that I have been the one chasing Savannah Marshall, not Savannah Marshall chasing me,” he said. “… I’m willing to fight her in her home country and beat her in front of her family, her friends and her fans and bring all the titles back to the USA.”
