Savannah Marshall vs Femke Hermans LIVE: Fight stream, latest updates and how to watch online tonight
Re-live round-by-round updates of all the action in Newcastle
Savannah Marshall retained her WBO middleweight title and moved a step closer to a seismic unification bout with Claressa Shields by knocking out Femke Hermans on Saturday.
Hartlepool fighter Marshall dropped her Belgian challenger in the final second of the third round, flooring Hermans with a short left hook to end the contest, retain her title and remain unbeaten at 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Marshall’s victory at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle was observed by Shields, the American watching on from the front row as Marshall handed Hermans the first stoppage loss of the Belgian’s career. Shields, meanwhile, previously went the distance with Hermans.
A unification bout between Marshall and unified champion Shields is now expected to take place this summer, with Boxxer chief Ben Shalom saying “late June, early July” is the target. Marshall told Sky Sports: “Claressa can’t handle my power. I believe I severely hurt Claressa.” Shields responded: “She’s gonna have trouble with me, and she’s definitely not gonna knock me out. Femke was able to make her miss, and I’m ten times faster than Femke, so what do you think I’m gonna do?”
Re-live updates from Savannah Marshall vs Femke Hermans and the event’s undercard, below.
Marshall vs Hermans
The fight will air live on Sky Sports in the UK. The broadcaster will also stream the action live on its website and the Sky Go app.
Coverage will begin at 8pm BST, with ring walks for Marshall vs Hermans expected to take place at approximately 10pm BST.
Marshall vs Hermans
“I’m not out to impress Claressa,” Marshall told the BBC of Shields this week.
“My boxing speaks for itself. Everyone keeps saying how can I focus on Femke when everyone is talking about Claressa? But the thing is, everyone’s been talking about Claressa for the past four years. She’s always been creeping about in the background for me, this is nothing new.
“I’ve got tunnel vision when it comes to who I’m fighting. I know I can’t overlook Femke. [Then there is] nothing stopping setting up a massive fight between me and Claressa in the summer.”
Marshall vs Hermans
Here is tonight’s card in full:
Savannah Marshall vs Femke Hermans (WBO women’s middleweight title)
Florian Marku vs Chris Jenkins (IBF International welterweight title)
Nathan Gorman vs Scott Alexander (heavyweight)
Bradley Rea vs Lukas Ndafoluma (middleweight)
April Hunter vs Ester Konecna (women’s super-welterweight)
Zak Chelli vs Jack Kilgannon (super-middleweight)
Michael Webster vs Erdogan Kadrija (cruiserweight)
Matty Harris vs Phil Williams (heavyweight)
Hosea Stewart vs Mait Metsis (heavyweight)
Lukas Cope vs Lee Connelly (super-lightweight)
Chloe Watson vs Gemma Ruegg (women’s super-flyweight)
Georgia O’Connor vs Erica Juana Gabriela Alvarez (women’s super-welterweight)
Marshall vs Hermans card: All fights taking place tonight
All you need to know about the main event and undercard
Marshall vs Hermans
Savannah Marshall will put her WBO middleweight title and undefeated status on the line against Femke Hermans tonight, with the Briton’s chances of a seismic clash against Claressa Shields also at risk in Newcastle.
Hartlepool’s Marshall (11-0, 9 knockouts) headlines at the Utilita Arena as she defends her belt against her Belgian challenger, who is riding a three-fight win streak as she enters this bout in hostile territory. Hermans (12-3, 5 KOs) last competed in July, when she finished Lili Jumali in the third round. Marshall, meanwhile, last fought in October, when she finished Lolita Muzeya in the second round for a seventh straight stoppage victory.
Marshall, 30, told the BBC this week: “Everyone keeps saying, how can I focus on Femke when everyone is talking about Claressa? But the thing is, everyone’s been talking about Claressa for the past four years. She’s always been creeping about in the background for me, this is nothing new. I’ve got tunnel vision when it comes to who I’m fighting. I know I can’t overlook Femke. [Then there is] nothing stopping setting up a massive fight between me and Claressa in the summer.”
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