Savannah Marshall expressed strong dissatisfaction with the judges’ scoring following her split decision loss to Shadasia Green at Madison Square Garden in New York. This match marked Marshall’s return to boxing after a two-year absence, during which she competed in mixed martial arts with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Previously, she had secured her status as the undisputed super-middleweight champion in 2023 by defeating Franchon Crews Dezurn.
In this high-stakes bout, which took place on the undercard of the highly anticipated fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, Marshall aimed to unify the IBF and WBO 168-pound titles. While one judge scored the fight 96-93 in Marshall’s favor, the other two judges awarded the victory to Green, with scores of 95-94 and 96-93, despite Green receiving a point deduction for holding.
Marshall voiced her concerns about the fairness of the scoring, stating, “Taking nothing away from Shadasia, she was absolutely unbelievable tonight and you know what, I’ve never been hit like that before ever.” She continued, “I’ve come over here, I’ve given you all three judges, how is that [scoring] fair? Even with a point off. Look, I’m not saying I won… All I wanted was a fair fight. Come on.”
Green, who emerged victorious in this tough contest, acknowledged the challenge posed by Marshall. “Shout out to Savannah Marshall, she was a tough cookie. She caught me with a good shot too. Buckled my left leg. I’ve never been hit like that before but I’m just honoured to be here today and be victorious,” she said. Green also noted the physical toll of the fight, mentioning, “I can barely hear out of the left side of my ear. So I’m going to take some time off, some rest and recovery… I’ll be back.”
With this win, Green has set her sights on a potential matchup with Claressa Shields, the only other professional fighter to have defeated Marshall. “I would love to fight Claressa Shields,” Green declared. “The best competition is always going to bring the best out of me. When the time comes and it’s big, let’s do it.”
Green’s promoter, Jake Paul, who has transitioned from YouTube to boxing, is keen to make this fight a reality. He stated, “Let’s get it, let’s do it. Business is business and that’s one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing. So we’re here to do that. That’s what we do.”
The outcome of Marshall versus Green may have significant implications for the women’s boxing landscape, especially with Green now aiming for a high-profile clash against Shields. As both fighters reflect on this pivotal moment, the boxing community will be watching closely to see how the future unfolds for these talented athletes.
