EUROPEAN champion Femke Hermans’ chin has proven dependable in the past, but on Saturday night the Belgian’s jaw faces the sternest test in all of women’s boxing.

Savannah Marshall makes the third defence of her WBO world middleweight title at the Newcastle Arena armed with the most formidable power in the ring.

With 9 KO’s in 11 straight wins, the 30-year-old from Hartlepool boasts an 82% knockout percentage. Her nearest world champion rivals are Amanda Serrano, with 68%, Alycia Baumgardner, 58%, and fellow Brit Chantelle Cameron, 53%.

Unsurprisingly, by the time the first bell goes this weekend, all talk will already be on a unification fight with her long-term rival and world number one, Claressa Shields. The American sensation who holds all remaining belts at 160lb.

Shields has won everything in boxing, both amateur and pro, and has lost just one fight in her entire boxing career; to Marshall at the 2012 World Amateur Championships in China.

The rematch appeared inevitable. But the Brit lost her Lonodn 2012 quarter-final bout a few weeks later, where Shields would go on to claim the first of her two Olympic gold medals. And they missed one another again at Rio in 2016 when history repeated itself.

Sheilds has maintained she wants her revenge. Whilst Marshall believes she’s simply got the number of the self-proclaimed GWOAT (Greatest Woman Of All Time).

However, the big middleweight unification showdown won’t happen unless Marshall retains her title on Saturday. And she can’t afford to look past Hermans who, despite losing on points to Shields in 2018, has enjoyed a stint as world champion up at super-middleweight.

The 32-year-old is also the proud first owner of the newly minted European title – the increase in competition is seeing more belts introduced to the women’s game – and she also travels to the UK on the back of a third-round knockout victory of her own, albeit against lowly opposition.

She faces a significant task in usurping 30-year-old Marshall from her big summer unification fight however. County Durham’s ‘Silent Assassin’ has one of the most productive partnerships in the sport.

After teaming up with trainer Peter Fury to turn pro, the British pairing have never looked back.

It’s incredibly difficult to knock out a skilled opponent in just 10 x 2-minute bursts, hence the reason why most elite female fighters are pushing for parity with the men’s game and a switch to three-minute rounds. But big-punching Savannah doesn’t require the extra 60 seconds.

She dominates fights from behind a long jab, utilising skilled footwork to trap her opponents in corners and, clearly, she punches like a freight train. Advantages that will be all too evident once the bell rings on Saturday night.

It’s no surprise the two points decisions on her ledger arrived inside Marshall’s first four fights. Now she’s fighting opposition with winning records, she’s finding openings and finishes quickly and cleanly.

Shields may have the silverware and pedigree to remain as world number one (for now), but Marshall has the viral moments and momentum to ensure their planned summer showdown will be one of the biggest fights staged in the UK in 2022.

TIP: Marshall by TKO 5–6 | 19/5