Savannah Marshall has followed her rival Claressa Shields to the PFL where she will now compete in MMA in a bout that now looks certain to be made
Claressa Shields’ biggest rival has followed her to mixed martial arts after signing with the PFL. Savannah Marshall has been announced as the latest boxer to move over to MMA, with her debut already set in the PFL – where she could eventually be reunited with Shields in a fitting end to their 10-year rivalry.
Shields and Marshall had been seen as the two best prospects in boxing heading into the 2012 Olympics, where the latter defeated the American, handing her her first loss of her amateur career.
She went on to boast an incredible 64 wins to just one loss, coming against Marshall, before both turned professional with talks of a fight for years finally coming to a head in 2022. Shields was able to exact her revenge in their professional bout – winning by unanimous decision as the two shared words of respect after the bout.
But since then, the two have gone back and forth on social media and after wins of their own, with a future fight seemingly likely – and now, potentially in a different sport.
The PFL announced Marshall will fight in Newcastle on June 8, with the PFL already announcing their intentions of a future bout with Shields.
A PFL statement read: “Savannah and Claressa Shields competed in one of the most-watched women’s boxing matchups in history when they first fought, and now with Savannah’s MMA debut, the two are on a collision course for a rematch wearing four ounce gloves and settling the score in the PFL SmartCage.”
The PFL have made a number of impressive signings of the last 12 months, including former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Paul is reportedly set to make his PFL debut at some point in 2024, however no bout has yet been announced with the 27-year-old currently scheduled to face Mike Tyson in July.
