Commonwealth Games: Boxer Savannah Marshall through after scrappy opener
By Sam Drury
Last Updated: 30/07/14 3:04pm
Savannah Marshall comfortably beat India's Pooja Rani in a scrappy last 16 encounter of the women's 75kg boxing on Tuesday.
The Hartlepool middleweight was given the bout 40-36 on all three judges cards as she got her bid for Commonwealth gold off to the perfect start.
It was a far from a vintage fight and Marshall didn't have to be at her best to take the win against an opponent looking to clinch more than punch for the majority of the fight.
The 23-year-old world champion grew in to the fight and avoided getting sucked in to a battle she didn't need despite the best efforts of her Indian rival.
Using her jab to good effect more and more as the bout went on, Marshall rarely looked troubled, used the ring well and looked to pick Rani off when the chances arose to ensure the outcome was never in doubt.
“I was the last one to box out of all of England so it has been a long wait. It was a nice way to ease into it," she said afterwards.
“I thought she was going to come forward but she didn’t so that was a bit of surprise. I am on again for a few days now hopefully and we’ll have to see if I get better and better the more I fight.”
Tougher challenges await for Marshall but she has overcome the first, potentially awkward hurdle and will be back in action on Wednesday in the quarter-finals.