Boxer Savannah Marshall on plotting to rule the world again
Savannah Marshall has her eyes set on Rio 2016
Sunday 28 August 2016 08:09, UK
Seven weeks ago, Savannah Marshall left the ring in Azerbaijan, head bowed after defeat, she grabbed her bag, jumped on the first bus back to the hotel and sobbed herself to sleep.
There was no shame in being dumped out of the European Games at the first hurdle to the world No 3, but for a boxer used to be showered in glory, this hurt.
Since that painful night in June in Baku, the 24-year-old Commonwealth Games champion from Hartlepool has had time to reflect and with opportunities to qualify for the Rio Olympics few and far between she'd be excused for a little dose of panic.
Not a chance. Having overcome injury and self-doubt, Britain's first ever women's boxing world champion is fighting back in and out of the ring. Savannah explains....
When things go bad I like to get out of there. After losing in Baku, I had to leave the arena quick. I was really upset and got on that bus, sat at the back and went back to my room and had a cry.
It was the first European Games and I wanted that gold so much and I was feeling confident and sharp. I drew the European champion and a world class boxer in my old rival Nochka Fontijn from the Netherlands. Ideally I would have liked a fight before her but it doesn’t work that way.
It was close and I didn’t get the decision but she boxed the best I’ve ever seen her. She was quicker than me but it was only my third bout of the year because of injury. She was more active than me and she went on to win gold so at least I lost to the eventual winner which made me feel a bit better!
I spoke to my mum and dad and soon stopped feeling sorry for myself and got back into the gym.
I do get angry and I start blaming everyone else and then I blame myself. I need to have a few days away after losing and when the dust settles I look at where I went wrong (I analyse my fights on TV) and what I need to do and move on.
The last year I've had more downs then ups. I suffered a bad shoulder injury that needed surgery and that put me out for six months. I won Commonwealth Games gold and then lost my world title. I tore a tendon in my hand at the start of 2015 so I’ve only been sparring since May.
Now I’m injury free and it’s six months until my Olympic qualifier. I need to stay positive and I know what I want to do. I do have a plan!
That is to be more active. I will be boxing again in August and then every month until January. I don’t feel like I’m that far away considering I’ve only been back for three months. In another few months I will hope to be back on top. I believe in myself.
There’s a lot of pressure but I’m not ranked in the world's top 10 anymore but deep down I know I’m the best in the world. It’s on everybody else’s shoulders, not mine. I lost the world title in November and I was beaten at the European Games - everyone will overlook me!
There is nothing for female boxers for the rest of the year. The next big event is the World Championships in Astana in Kazakhstan. I’m hoping to get back into it straight away with a little club tournament. I need to get myself back boxing, particularly after my recent defeat.
If I know I’m on it and my mind’s right and I’ve trained hard I know I can beat anybody in the world. It’s all about myself.
One person who has really helped is my mentor Adam Smith. He’s always messaging me. He’s a very positive guy, wishing me good luck and asking how I am and giving advice.
I’ve really enjoyed working with him and he’s had a great impact. He’s told me that just because I’ve lost doesn’t mean I’m not as good as I was when I won the World Championships. Having someone on my side who is so positive is just amazing.
I need to build myself though. When you’re winning you don’t think anything needs changing. After a big loss and you start thinking about sparring better and changing things. I see the loss in Baku as a godsend. If I had won I would have carried on but I’m miles away from the best I could be. I can be so much better. Hopefully it will come in time for qualifying.
If I could change something about me it would be my robustness. Some fighters have never had one injury - I always had niggles and needed rehab. If I had my time over I’d like to be more robust!
When I’m tired, I just keep pushing myself. From what I’ve learned over a few years is that I’m not a boxer, I’m a human and it’s getting that balance between those two. I’m not a machine. I used to think about boxing all the time. Now I’ve learned there are things you have to make time for - friends, family and it’s crucial to get a healthy balance - otherwise you’d go mad!
I’ve learned through experience. You have to have fun and enjoy life. When I was younger at college, I’d run, train and be so tired that I couldn’t go out. Now I’ll make time with days off. There would be times when friends were going to parties and I’d say ‘no I can’t come because I can’t drink’. Now I’ll go and enjoy myself if I can. I used to think I had to drink to have a good time! Not now.
I’ve been boxing for 12 years and I’ve changed as a boxer and human. I used to think about boxing all the time. I didn’t have any social skills but now I’m happy with the position I’m in - I am happy being me!
Rio has come round so quick. I’m looking forward to it. This time before London I was nervous and thinking so much about qualifying - now I can’t wait.
