arshall vs Hermans – LIVE!
Savannah Marshall puts her WBO middleweight title on the line tonight when she defends the belt against Femke Hermans in Newcastle.
This is the 30-year-old’s third defence of her title, wbich she won in October 2020 with a seventh-round stoppage victory over Hannah Rankin, and she has not been taken past the third round in her two fights since.
It’s a huge night for Marshall, particularly when you consider what could come next should she get the job done against Hermans tonight. Victory could set up a massive undisputed fight against Claressa Shields, holder of the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBF and The Ring titles.
Shields defended those belts in Cardiff in February, when she then got into a heated confrontation with Marshall after the fight. Marshall is the only fighter to ever beat the American, back in the amateur World Championships in 2012, and a clash between the pair in the professional ranks would be hugely anticipated.
Florian Marku defended his IBF International welterweight title earlier in the night with a fourth-round stoppage of Chris Jenkins, while Brad Rea extended his record to 13-0 with a comfortable points victory and Zak Chelli got a sixth-round stoppage.
Boxing schedule and results
Savannah Marshall vs Femke Hermans
Florian Marku bt Chris Jenkins
Zak Chelli bt Jack Kilgannon
Brad Rea bt Lukasz Ndafoluma
Chloe Watson vs Gemma Ruegg
Luke Cope bt Lee Connelly
April Hunter bt Ester Konecna
Michael Webster bt Erdogan Kadrija
Georgia O’Connor bt Erica Alvarez
Hosea Stewart bt Phil William
Matty Harris bt Mait Metsis
Michael Likalu bt Carl Turney
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Live updates
And now for the world champions, Savannah Marshall. Huge, huge night for her. An undisputed clash against Claressa Shields is within reach, but that will be snatched away if she slips up tonight.
Peter Fury is convinced she won’t be distracted. We’re going to find out very shortly.
It’s time!
Here we go – main event is just a few minutes away. Time for some world title action.
Hermans makes her way to the ring first, smiles as she’s met with a chorus of boos. Sure she was expecting that.
Fury: Marshall is hitting harder than ever
Peter Fury, trainer of Savannah Marshall, is confident that his fighter will be fully focussed on the task ahead tonight and not looking ahead to a potential bout with Claressa Shield.
“I’ve gone through it with Savannah and I’ve told her ‘you’re a world champion now, and all this comes with it, just peel the pressure off, it doesn’t matter, don’t get thinking you’ve got to overperform and impress Claressa’,” Fury said.
“I said ‘drown that out, you’ve got a job to do’.
“She’s super confident, she’ll go about her job, and she’ll go and dissect the opponent, that’s it.
“She’s hitting harder than ever before, she’s in fantastic shape.
“She’ll struggle to go the distance this girl, and I know she’s never been stopped.”
Marku has his eye on some big names…
Chris Kongo is ringside, but Marku has dismissed him as a potential next opponent.
He’s made it clear who he wants – Amir Khan. If not, he also wants to face Kell Brook or Conor Benn. They would all certainly be huge fights.
Florian Marku wants Amir Khan next
“Chris Jenkins, I have respect for him. Congratulations. He accepted the fight. I didn’t come here by luck, and win all those fights, I give my heart when I come to the ring.
“Today, I outboxed the boxer. I’m still learning. Don’t forget, I’m only three years into boxing. Give me Amir Khan. I’m going to break him.”
Watch: Marku gets punishing stoppage in fourth round
Nice to see the respect from the two in the corner.
Jenkins got caught on the temple and his legs completely went, but he decided not to go down and that probably cost him.
Staggered on, Marku unloaded and the referee had seen enough. No complaints from Jenkins about the decision.
Marku vs Jenkins
Round 4
Big right hand from Marku… JENKINS IN HUGE TROUBLE!
He staggers back, did he go to ground? Referee tells Marku to continue and he’s unloading now, Jenkins covering up but he looks in a really bad way.
Shots are landing, Jenkins stumbles back onto the ropes. REFEREE JUMPS IN AND STOPS IT!
Marku gets the fourth-round stoppage!
Marku vs Jenkins
Round 3
Jenkins lands a couple of left hooks, but Marku responds with a straight right.
It’s Marku who has taken centre ring in this round, stalking his opponent. The pair have clashed heads – cut has opened up on Marku’s forehead and he keeps wiping it. Clearly bothering him.
Gets caught with a big right hand too, responds with a combination of his own though. The cut has increased the intensity from Marku, he’s pressing things now.
Lovely left hook from Marku lands right on the bell, got to think that’s his round. His corner tell him that the cut is fine.
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