Claressa Shields wins exciting grudge match over Savannah Marshall

Sharper Claressa Shields won a unanimous decision over rival Savannah Marshal to become the undisputed women’s middleweight champion at O2 Arena in London, Eng. Saturday night.

Scores were 96-94 and 97-93 twice for Shields. 

Maxboxing had Shields winning by a 97-93 tally. 

The super-confident Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) opened the fight by pumping left jabs. Crowd-favorite Marshall jabbed, bobbed, and weaved. Shields landed a left hook to the body, followed by several fast combinations. 

In round two, the much bigger Marshall tried to get closer. She caught Shields with a glancing blow to the head. 

Shields flashed fast hands – landing numerous blows to the chin. 

Marshall came out jabbing in round three. Shields caught her coming in with crisp headshots. Her counters were most effective. 

Shields opened the fourth round by punching to the body and head. Marshall fought back, but hitting Shields

with anything solid is tough. 

Marshall forced Shields into the corner in round five and landed. Both fighters scored with cracking shots in round five, but Shields did better. 

Shields worked her speedy and accurate hands in round six. Marshall connected with a left hook. 

Shields landed a lead right that had to bother Marshall. 

Marshall stalked Shields in round seven. Shields calmly tagged her with an uppercut. Marshall came back with rights and lefts. Shields absorbed the blows and landed more of her own at the bell. 

With three rounds to go, Shields was winning the fight. Marshall did better in round nine. She cuffed Shields with lefts. Shields appeared to be taking the round off. 

In the 10th and final round, Marshall, told by her corner to empty her gas tank, fired hooks. A few landed.

Shields connected with a left to the gut. Marshall landed an uppercut. 

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Alycia Baumgardner became the undisputed super featherweight with a controversial split decision victory over Mikala Mayer. 

Scores were 97-93 Mayer, 96-95 Baumgardner, and 96-95 Baumgardner.

Maxboxing scored the fight 96-94 Mayer. 

In the opening round, Mayer boxed and moved. Baumgardner, who captured the IBO and WBC by knocking out favored Terri Harper on her feet, stalked. She jabbed to the body. Mayer, the more textbook boxer, moved away.  

In rounds two and three, Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KOs) continued to work Mayer’s body. Mayer, taller by a few inches, fired jabs - followed by rights.

Told by her comer to fire a straight one-two Mayer (17-1, 7 KOs) went out and executed in round four - landing several. Baumgardner smiled.  

Baumgardner tried to get busier in round five. Mayer connected with solid jabs and right crosses. 

Mayer did solid work in round six. Her volume had Baumgardner off balance. Baumgardner landed a cuffing right in round seven. 

Later in the heat, she knocked Mayer back a step with a left. Mayer fought back. 

Baumgardner circled to her left in round eight. The WBC champion connected with a sweet uppercut. Mayer connected with a left and right. 

Mayer got off first in round nine. Baumgardner was a step behind but did fire counter at times.  

In the 10th and final round, Mayer snapped off jabs. She looked to be in control with her sustained work.  

Apparently, not according to the judges.