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WBC, IBF, WBA middleweight champion Claressa Shields believes a victory in her upcoming fight with WBO champion Savannah Marshall could be just as big as the April win by Katie Taylor over longtime rival Amanda Serrano at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Shields and Marshall will collide in an undisputed showdown in September.
“I believe the storyline behind it means it can be as big. With how great I am, and how she’s built up to be this knockout artist – that’s why this fight should be happening in London,” Shields told BBC.
Shields, 27, is a three division world champion and a two-time Olympic gold medal winner.
Her only defeat, as an amateur or a pro, came in 2012 at the hands of Marshall.
Shields has no respect for the 31-year-old Marshall, because she feels her UK rival has not properly earned her place.
She feels Marshall has used their amateur bout to market herself as a pro.
“I don’t have respect for anybody who didn’t earn it and for anybody who didn’t work hard,” Shields said.
“I give credit to someone who actually has the accolades and has the belts. I’m not a three-time world champion, I’m a 12-time world champion who’s fought in three different divisions since I’ve turned professional.
“I haven’t beat these girls because they were easy, I’ve beat them because I was great. Savannah Marshall’s claim to fame is ‘oh she wouldn’t have won any of that if I fought her’. The UK is building her up to be this knockout artist and they’re gonna be disappointed.”