SAVANNAH MARSHALL will make her mixed martial arts debut at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena in June after opting to make the switch from professional boxing.

The Hartlepool-born fighter was a World boxing champion at amateur level and enjoyed a successful professional career that saw her take on Claressa Shields in the biggest female fight in history.

With Shields having switched to MMA, Marshall has decided to follow suit, and the North-Easterner will make her debut in the code as part of a Professional Fighters League (PFL) bill in Newcastle on Saturday, June 8.

In addition to Marshall’s MMA debut, the bill will also see the continuation of the 2024 PFL Europe Regular Season, with bantamweights and women’s flyweights beginning their ‘Path to Greatness’ and looking to secure spots in the PFL Europe Play-offs this September.

A full list of participants and match-ups will be announced shortly, and the fighting will be broadcast in the UK on DAZN.

PFL CEO Peter Murray said: “The Professional Fighters League prides itself on having the best athletes in the world on its roster and on June 8, PFL welcomes boxing World champion and combat sports Icon Savannah Marshall to the SmartCage for her MMA debut, where she will compete in front of her hometown fans in Newcastle.

“Savannah and Claressa Shields competed in one of the most-watched women’s boxing match-ups in history when they first fought, and now with Savannah’s MMA debut, the two are on a collision course for a rematch wearing four ounce gloves and settling the score in the PFL SmartCage."