Newcastle, UK - WBO middleweight champion Savannah Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs) brutally knocked out former beltholder Femke Hermans (12-4, 5 KOs) in the third round. (photos by Lawrence Lustig)

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In the fight, Hermans was holding her own in the first two rounds, with Marshall unloading with the heavier hands. Hermans was willing to trade punches with Marshall in the third. Marshall was pushing Femke back with every landed shot - and then connected with a hook that sent Hermans down hard and out cold. The fight was quickly waved off. It marked the first time that Hermans had been stopped.

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Marshall will now head to a full division unification showdown with career rival Claressa Shields, who holds the WBC, WBA, IBF middleweight titles. Marshall defeated Shields in the amateurs - which is still the last time Shields tasted defeat.

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