It's been a decade since Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields shared a boxing ring. Back then, Marshall defeated Shields by a controversial decision in the amateurs. Originally scheduled for September 10 but postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the highly anticipated grudge match is now tentatively set for October 15 at the O2 Arena in London on October 15 to determine an undisputed middleweight champion.
But a lot has changed since they last met.
Shields -- the self-proclaimed "G.W.O.A.T." (Greatest Woman of All Time) -- has made history as the only woman to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals while also becoming an undisputed champion in two different weight classes as a professional.
Marshall hasn't had quite the same success, but is the current WBO female middleweight champion.
Both are undefeated as pro fighters and will look to put an end to their rivalry.
The Sporting News breaks down the betting lines and offers some advice on how to bet on this historic fight.
MORE: Sign up to watch Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall on ESPN+
All betting lines courtesy of Caesar’s Sportsbook
Betting Odds for Shields vs. Marshall
- Claressa Shields: -125
- Savannah Marshall: +105
Prop Bets for Shields vs. Marshall
- Shields by (T)KO: +900
- Shields by decision: +120
- Marshall by (T)KO: +245
- Marshall by decision: +275
Expert Prediction for Shields vs. Marshall
On the surface, two undefeated fighters with the same record and one fighter holding the victory over the other would suggest a very competitive rematch. And the betting lines reflect that as both Shields is the slight favorite over Marshall.
However, a look beneath the surface suggests that the odds are much closer than they should be.
Yes, Marshall defeated Shields, but that was a decade ago, when Shields was a 17-year-old in the amateurs. Shields has gone 50-0 in a boxing ring since that 2012 loss, won two Olympic gold medals and has been the undisputed champion of two different weight classes.
MORE: Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall undercard
Both are 12-0 in the professional ranks, but Shields’ strength of schedule is far superior to Marshall’s. But it appears that the oddsmakers are infatuated with Marshall’s power as she has collected ten knockouts in twelve pro fights. However, a vast majority of her opposition was subpar.
The reality here is that Shields is the much better boxer who has been dominant throughout her career. Against Marshall, Shields will have a point to prove but won’t go out of her way to prove it. The tactician will have the upper hand and will aim to outwork her rival. But it’s unlikely that Shields will finish Marshall unless the opportunity does present itself. And with ten two-minute rounds, those chances will be far and few in between.
Instead, Shields will come out fast and put combination punches together from the outset to overwhelm and eventually deflate the WBO female middleweight champion to become the undisputed champion once again.
At -125, there isn’t a lot of value in taking Shields to win. Instead, pick up a prop bet of Shields winning by decision at +120 to get the most bang for your buck.
Sporting News Prediction: Claressa Shields by Decision (+120)
MORE: Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall purse, salaries
When is Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall?
- Date: Saturday, October 15
- Main card: 2 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. BST | 4 a.m. AEST
- Main event: 5:30 p.m. ET | 10:30 p.m. BST | 7:30 a.m. AEST (approximately)
Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall takes place on October 15. The main card is expected to start at 2 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. BST | 4 a.m. AEST. Shields and Marshall should make their way to the ring around 5:30 p.m. ET | 10:30 p.m. BST | 7:30 a.m. AEST, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall
- ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
- Sky Sports
- FITE.tv
The Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall main card will be shown on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.
In the U.K. you can watch the fight card via Sky Sports.
Other ways to watch Shields-Marshall is via FITE.tv and FOX (Australia)
MORE: Sign up to watch Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall on ESPN+
Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall price: How much does the card cost?
You will need to pay $9.99 a month for a monthly subscription or an annual subscription for $99.99/yr. The Shields vs. Marshall fight won't be an additional cost to current ESPN+ subscribers.
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall fight card
- Claressa Shields (c) vs. Savannah Marshall (c) for the WBC, IBF, WBA, and WBO middleweight title
- Mikaela Mayer (c) vs. Alycia Baumgardner (c) for the WBO, IBF, and WBC junior-lightweight titles
- Caroline Dubois vs. Milena Koleva
- Lauren Price MBE vs. Timea Belik
- Karriss Artingstall vs. Marina Sakharov
- Ebonie Jones vs. Vanesa Caballero
- April Hunter vs. Erica Juana Gabriela Alvarez
- Shannon Ryan vs. Buchra El Quaissi
- Ginny Fuchs vs. Gemma Ruegg
- Sarah Liegmann vs. Bec Connolly
- Georgia O’Connor vs. TBA
