Savannah Marshall crosses over to MMA

Savannah Marshall has followed long-time rival Claressa Shields into the Professional Fighters League after signing a multi-year contract with the mixed martial arts organisation.

Marshall is the only boxer to have defeated Shields, doing so at the 2012 World Championships in the amateurs, but the American prevailed in their undisputed world middleweight title fight last October.

The Briton bounced back to outpoint Franchon Crews Dezurn last month and become undisputed world champion at super-middleweight and had been chasing a return boxing bout against her adversary.

However, it was announced earlier this month that Shields, who has won one and lost one in MMA, has rejoined the PFL and Marshall has signed her own deal despite no experience in the sport.

"She beat me in the ring and I've been chasing that rematch, I don't believe I'm going to get it but in the cage, it lights that fire again," Marshall said in an interview with DAZN.

"It's one (to Shields) in the ring, could I draw one back in the cage. It's really exciting, she's been doing MMA for two years and you'd never know because she's terrible."