16 October 2021

Savannah Marshall makes quick work of Lolita Muzeya in first title defence

16 October 2021

Savannah Marshall retained her WBO middleweight title by stopping Zambian challenger Lolita Muzeya inside two rounds in Newcastle

The Hartlepool fighter, who is unbeaten in her professional career, was making the first defence of the title she won almost exactly a year ago and it did not last long.

Savannah Marshall (left) stopped Lolita Muzeya inside two rounds (Owen Humphreys/PA) (PA Wire)

It was a big step up in class for Muzeya and, although she came out with all guns blazing, she quickly ran out of steam and the referee stepped in just before the end of the second round.

Marshall, 30, is now set for a super-fight against American Claressa Shields, and the pair will fight on the same card in December.

A bullish Marshall told Sky Sports: “Claressa couldn’t last two minutes with me, let alone two rounds.”

Hughie Fury (left) defeated Christian Hammer (Owen Humphreys/PA) (PA Wire)

It was a good night for trainer Peter Fury, whose son Hughie defeated Christian Hammer in a heavyweight contest that ended when the Romanian retired through injury after a bruising fifth round.

Hughie Fury, who has set his sights on emulating cousin Tyson as a world champion, said: “I was very easy in there, I was going through the gears.

“We had a lot more gears to offer. The stoppage was coming no matter what. He was getting hit constantly.”

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