Savannah Marshall out of World championship after losing semi-final final to Nouchka Fontijn

The Hartlepool boxer lost her semi on points at the Barys Arena in Astana this afternoon, all three judges scoring it for the world number two.

Fontijn, who had won her previous three matches with Marshall, did not have it her own away and the scores of 40-36 (twice) and 39-37 flattered the Dutch girl.

Certainly three of the four rounds could have gone to the Headland boxer and the final result did not do her justice.

But, the goal of a place at the Rio Olympics was achieved and she will return to Dyke House with a bronze medal.

Fontijn boxed the entire contest on the back foot and countered well in the opener.

But Marshall had success with some long rights and a double jab, plus a couple of god left-right combinations.

The first round looked too close to call but each of the three judges sided with Fontijn.

The Netherlands fighter started and finished round two and in between, her counter-work was slick.

Marshall ploughed forward and pushed her rival back with good shots but Fontijn earned the session.

However, the third round was almost all Marshall as Fontijn, with a two-round advantage, got on her bike.

Savannah landed some excellent shots but, somehow, only one of the three judges marked it for her with the other two giving it to the blue corner.

Round four was a similar story with Marshall piling on the pressure and Fontijn happy to stay out of range but, again, the judges went with Nouchka.

It represented a disappointing finale for the Commonwealth Games champion but a bronze medal will come as some consolation.

American Claressa Shields continued in her quest for a second successive world middleweight title by outpointing Chinese Taipei’s former Junior World Champion Nien-Chin Chen.