Shields vs Marshall was a big step forward for women’s boxing

Both women just about found the balance between illustrating their genuine animosity and providing a reminder of the skill and quality they possess inside the ring, writes Jack Rathborn

Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall will be fondly remembered as the greatest night in the history of women’s boxing on these shores (Action Images via Reuters)

The doom and gloom of boxing quickly passed last weekend, as the rainbow that was Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall (and an all-female card at a sold-out O2 arena) emerged.

Shields is the greatest female fighter of all time to many, after three undisputed reigns in as many divisions and two Olympic gold medals. The American has risen like a phoenix out of poverty and trauma during a childhood spent growing up in Flint, Michigan. The 27-year-old displayed a dazzling array of skills to outpoint the Briton, 31, on what will be fondly remembered as the greatest night in the history of women’s boxing on these shores.

“It was a historic event that may never be repeated,” declared Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom. “We staged something many thought wasn’t possible and it will go down in the history books. We want Boxxer to have a positive impact on redefining the sport for its long-term health and success as our fighters and events inspire future generations.

“We can now look forward to an extremely bright future and carry such positive momentum into the rest of the year with some huge fight nights ahead.”

The challenge now will be to replicate events like Saturday. The demand seems to be there for an undisputed fight – or even a unification fight – between two Americans, after Alycia Baumgardner edged out Mikaela Mayer to collect her second and third super-featherweight world titles. It was a fight built on bad blood, as is so often the case in boxing. But unlike many rivalries in men’s boxing, both women just about found the balance between illustrating their genuine animosity, and providing a reminder of the skill and quality they possess inside the ring.

Will we now see a push for three-minute rounds? Both championship contests played out over 10 x two-minute rounds and appeared to lose momentum when the bell provided an abrupt pause to the chaos inside the ropes. Shields is eager for equality, but warned of the need to prioritise female fighters’ health.

“To move women’s boxing forward, we’ll have to fight the same amount of time as the men, but I think we should go to 12 x two-minute rounds,” the American told The Independent. “It’s safer, to jump to 36 minutes is dangerous, but from 20 to 24 minutes, get us used to fighting 12 rounds. If we move forward, we can go to three-minute rounds in a few years. It’s safer for women, we’ve been boxing two-minute rounds forever. Eventually, it will be 12 x three-minute rounds though.”

The atmosphere was evidently different, with less anger or hostility in the crowd and no apparent misbehaviour. Ticketmaster reported more than 35 per cent of sales were from women, when shows usually return less than five percent sales from women.

“It was a better crowd, it seemed more inclusive, it seemed like the sport had taken a step forward,” Shalom said. “That was because of the way the athletes took to it, the entertainment, the professionalism, the ring walks.

“On occasions we might do all-women cards, but these athletes have potential to headline bills, become superstars. They won’t just be floating around on undercards. The blueprint is now there.”

Yours,

Jack Rathborn

Assistant sports editor