When Savannah’s Marshall decidedto quit boxing, but signed with Mayweather Promotions instead

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After losing in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Savannah Marshall had considered retiring from professional boxing, before she was made aware of Mayweather Promotions’ intentions to sign her. This was not the first instance of the boxer facing a challenging phase in her amateur career post the London Olympic Games in 2016, which has included injuries and the occasional drop in performance. However, this did not deter Mayweather Promotions from the decision to sign her, which is about to culminate in a career defining match between Marshall and Claressa Shields, for the title of the new middleweight champion.

However, encouragement from unlikely quarters has supported Marshall’s performance on more than one occasion. During the years separating the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, Marshall had fallen into a demotivated slump. Egged on by coach Amanda Groarke, she came back to qualify for the Olympics, with a bronze at the World Championships. Subsequently, she made her professional debut at an undercard match to Mayweather’s fight with Conon McGregor in 2017.

However, a professional career in boxing, wasn’t as glitzy as she had imagined. She soon learnt the ropes and navigated both injuries and politics to claim her current position. It remains to be seen if Savannah Marshall can beat Clarissa Shields in their upcoming headlines-grabbing clash.