Franchon Crews Enters the Golden Age and More Female Fight News
By David A. Avila
Franchon Crews Dezurn grabbed her first fight and win in a year by knockout. Despite holding the WBC super middleweight world title her match against Kayla Williams was a non-title fight and ended by knockout.
On most occasions it might have been disappointing not defending the world title. This was different.
Crews was recently signed by Golden Boy Promotions to become part of its growing East Coast stable headed by Bernard Hopkins. It ended more than nine months of waiting and wondering for the Baltimore prizefighter who won the title in September 2018 against Maricela Cornejo.
Now, after a publicized contract with the Los Angeles-based Golden Boy company, Crews becomes a viable component of its East Coast operations.
“For a while I was in limbo,” said Crews by telephone. “Now, I kind of feel like Cinderella.”
Some saw the signs when Crews was spotted at Fantasy Springs Casino in support of her old Team USA friend Marlen Esparza. More than a few saw president of Golden Boy Eric Gomez talking with the amiable Crews and it looked like something was in the works.
Golden Boy was adapting to the new relationship and alliance with DAZN and its feelings about female prizefighting. The former contract between ESPN and Golden Boy was elapsing and the boxing company was headed into uncharted territory. Only recently was it clear that female prizefighting was being included.
Now, Golden Boy has three female fighters on its roster once again with Crews, Esparza and Seniesa Estrada.
Crews began her professional career in November 2016 with an explosive match against Claressa Shields in Las Vegas. For those that witnessed that clash it was a memorable fight and a precursor to the talent of the two African American fighters who now are both world champions. In Shields case she is a former super middleweight and now undisputed middleweight world champion.
Last September, Crews got her opportunity to fight Cornejo for the vacant WBC super middleweight title relinquished by Shields who dropped down to pursue the middleweight title against Hanna Gabriels.
Crews defeated Cornejo at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino by unanimous decision and also impressed Golden Boy Promotions with her marketability.
Her win over Williams last Thursday was the first step.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” Crews said.
More Shields
Speaking of Shields, two weeks ago the undisputed middleweight champion suffered a severe injury to her knee while running.
Mark Taffet, who manages Shields, said the injury was a dislocated knee but she suffered no tears and did not need surgery.
“They did an MRI and found no structural damage,” said Taffet by phone. “She has to let the swelling go down and should be able to return to the ring in October.”
Shields was undefeated and was coming off an impressive victory over Germany’s Christina Hammer. It was a dominating performance and was scheduled to drop down to the super welterweight division and fight Croatia’s Ivana Habazin. That will have to wait until October.
“The doctors said she should be ready to go and that her injuries will not keep her from fighting in the ring after it heals,” Taffet said adding that it will take at least two weeks of rest before she can begin strengthening the knee and leg muscles. And perhaps another four weeks before boxing training can resume.
Many boxing publications including this one list Shields at the top of the Pound for Pound list. The Michigan prizefighter has quickly become the eye of the female boxing storm.
More Female Fight News
Argentina
Rosa Caraballo (1-4) got her first win against Eliana Orrechia (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday June 22. The super bantamweight fight was held at Santa Fe.
On Friday June 28, super bantamweights Nazarena Moreno (7-0) and Valeria Almiron (2-18) meet in a six round bout in Catamarca.
Australia
Pam McClellan (1-0) won her pro debut by second round knockout of Mable Daucakacaka (0-2) on Saturday June 22. The featherweight fight was held in Newcastle.
On Friday June 28, middleweights Desley Robinson (0-0) and Jenna Whiteman (0-0) meet in a four round bout at Acacia Ridge, Queensland.
Canada
Jelena Mrdjenovich (39-10-2) defeated Italy’s Vissia Trovato (12-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 22. The featherweight retains the WBC and WBA world titles and took place in Edmonton. Also, Mikenna Tansley (1-0) knocked out Perla Rojas (1-6) in the third round of a bantamweight match.
On Friday June 28, super welterweights Marie Dicaire (15-0) and Maria Lindberg (17-4-2) meet in a 10 round IBF world title fight at Montreal. Also, welterweights Marie Houle (1-0) and Veronica Diaz (0-2) meet in a four round bout.
China
Li Liu (2-0) won by majority decision over Xiru Ma (0-1) after four rounds on Saturday June 22. The super lightweight bout took place in Shanghai.
On Saturday June 29, flyweights Li Chen (1-2) and ZaiFeng Zou (0-0) meet in a four round bout.
Denmark
Dina Thorslund (14-0) defeated Australia’s April Adams (11-2-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 22. The WBO super bantamweight fight took place at Horsens. (For more on this fight read the story by Phil Woolever on ThePrizefighters.com). Also, Jelena Janicijevic (3-1) beat Joanna Ekedahl (8-1) by knockout in the fifth round of their lightweight match.
Jelena Jelic (1-0) won by technical knockout in round four over Danijela Konaj (0-1) on Friday June 21. The super featherweight fight was held in Koge.
France
Cassandra Crevecoeur (1-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Sandra Maran (0-4) on Thursday June 20. The flyweight fight bout took place in Calais.
On Friday June 28, super lightweights Victoire Piteau (2-0) and Anissa Benyoub (2-2) meet for the French title at Puiseux-Pontoise.
On Saturday June 29, featherweights Nahed Kharchi (5-2) and Helena Claveau (0-1-2) meet in an eight round bout at Frejus.
India
On Saturday June 29, bantamweights Urvashi Singh (4-2) and Bhawna (0-0) meet in a six round bout at Noida.
Japan
Miyo Yoshida (13-1) defeated Casey Morton (8-2-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Wednesday June 19. The WBO super flyweight world title fight took place at Chiba.
On Tuesday June 25, minimum weights Chie Higano (8-8-1) and Mizuki Chimoto (1-0) meet in a six round bout in Tokyo.
Mexico
Yazmin Rivas (40-10-1) defeated Ana Maria Lozano (15-9-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 22. The WBA super bantamweight world title fight took place at Ahualulco del Mercado, Jalisco.
On Friday June 28, super bantamweights Yamileth Mercado (13-2) and Karina Fernandez (12-3-1) meet in a 10 round title fight at Chihuahua.
On Saturday June 29, bantamweights Margarita Angeles (3-5-2) and Laura Trevino (2-1-1) meet in a six round match in Mexico City.
Russia
Fatima Dudieva (4-0) won by first round knockout over Tamara Melkonyan (1-2) on Sunday June 16. The bantamweight fight took place at Ekterinberg.
South Korea
On Saturday June 29, super featherweights Hyun Mi Choi (16-0-1) and Wakako Fujiwara (8-2-2) meet for the WBA world title at Incheon.
Thailand
Loetizia Campana (5-5) beat Sumalee Tongpootorn (9-18-1) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday June 22. The light flyweight bout took place in Bangkok.
United Kingdom
Shannon Courtenay (3-0) won by technical knockout in round two over Valerija Sepetovska (0-2) on Friday June 21. The bantamweight fight took place in London.
On Saturday June 29, super featherweights Ingrid Egner (2-0) and Karina Kopinska (12-30-4) meet in a six round bout at Bracknell, Berkshire.
USA
Franchon Crews (5-1) won by technical knockout over Kayla Williams (0-3-1) in the fifth round on Thursday June 20. The non-title super middleweight fight took place Atlantic City, New Jersey. Crews holds the WBC world title.
On Friday June 28, welterweights Brittany Cruz (11-10-2) and Amorena Baca (2-1) meet in a four round bout at Golden, Colorado. Also, lightweights Shannon Sinn (1-0-1) and Crista Williams (0-2) meet in a four round bout; featherweights Angela Galvan (1-0) and Angelina Hoffschneider (0-0) in a four round bout; plus super flyweights Randee Morales (0-0) and Kathryn Paprocki (0-0) in a four round bout.
On Saturday June 29, flyweights Marissa Messer-Belenchia (0-0) and Delaney Owen (0-2) meet in a four round contest at Mashantucket, Conn.
On Saturday June 29, featherweights Shelly Vincent (24-2) and Simone Aparecida (16-12) meet in an eight round bout at Providence, Rhode Island.
(Photo by Al Applerose)