Savannah Marshall set up a summer showdown with Claressa Shields with a stunning third-round knockout win over Femke Hermans.
The pressure was on Marshall with her fierce rival watching from ringside, but she ignored any such distractions with a punch-perfect display that the Belgian had no answer to.
Marshall began the fight cautiously as she used the first two rounds to take a look at Hermans. Her subtle approach didn’t last long though, as she exploded into life in the third session.
Throwing more hurtful shots, Marshall landed a brilliant left hook at the end of the round, and the referee didn’t even have to count as it was obvious that Hermans wouldn’t beat the count.
With her latest assignment passed, Marshall’s attention was switched to Shields in the fight’s immediate aftermath.
A date is yet to be confirmed for the intriguing clash, but the appetite for what should be an excellent fight has increased further following another destructive display from the Hartlepool fighter.
“It’s me and Claressa in the summer now,” said Marshall when speaking to Sky Sports after the fight. “I know Claressa can’t handle my power. I know that when I land on Claressa, it’ll be goodnight. I believe that I’ll severely hurt Claressa.”
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