Claressa Shields promised to “school” Savannah Marshall in their undisputed middleweight championship fight on Saturday night in London.
American Shields and WBO champion Marshall are long-time rivals having fought 10 years ago in the amateurs and came face to face in a fiery news conference on Thursday.
Neither woman backed down during verbal exchanges, with Shields telling Marshall: “You about to get schooled.
“I’m about to Sugar Ray Leonard her.”
Shields and Marshall, both undefeated in 12 fights, have known each other for the best part of a decade having met at the 2012 World Championships.
Savannah’s win over Shields on that occasion remains the only defeat the WBA, IBF and WBC champion has suffered as a fighter.
“She’s a bum,” Shields insisted. “I’m about to show everybody that there’s levels. She thinks I’m still 17, I’m 27. You about to learn.”