Franchon Crews Dezurn to Face Maricela Cornejo Again in L.A.
By David A. Avila
One day you’re facing the heavyweight world champion, the next day it’s a former foe. It’s a topsy-turvy world for WBC super middleweight titlist Franchon Crews Dezurn and other female prizefighters.
A last minute change of opponents due to visa problems with the formerly scheduled opponent resulted in finding a replacement and her name is a recognizable one in Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo.
Crews (5-1, 2 KOs) makes her first defense of the world title against Cornejo (13-3, 5 KOs) on Saturday Sept.14, at Dignity Health Sports Park. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card. It was against the Los Angeles-based Cornejo that she grabbed the title a year ago.
Even with one of the major promotion companies backing, Crews has discovered that no one is immune from problems tripping up scheduled fights. But in this instance Golden Boy’s was able to find a quick replacement for former heavyweight champion Alejandra Jimenez who was dropping down in weight.
Cornejo had instructed her manager a month ago to tell her former employers Golden Boy that she was willing to fight Crews in a rematch. And to prove that she was serious, even though she was in Israel, the Mexican-American contender quickly accepted the fight with only two days-notice.
Her acceptance speaks volumes on her pride and confidence.
“It has only been a 2-day notice and after getting back from vacation last week, but I never stopped training. Prior to leaving I was scheduled for a fight but unfortunately or fortunately things didn’t work out with that fight and it didn’t happen,” said Cornejo who posted images of her Israel visit on social media.
First encounter
The last time Crews and Cornejo met was at the Hard Rock Hotel Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in September 2018. Both walked in with equal enthusiasm but the Baltimore fighter with extensive amateur experience walked out with the victory. Cornejo was dropped from the Golden Boy roster after the loss.
Meanwhile, despite the win, Crews was still in limbo looking to defend her newly won belt but unable to find a promoter that could deliver what she expected. Golden Boy Promotions approached her and soon she was invited to become one of three female fighters on their roster this past May. The others are flyweight Marlen Esparza and light flyweight Seniesa Estrada.
Crews was the only boxer to step forward when Claressa Shields was making her pro debut in 2016. Everyone else wanted more time or more money, Crews took the fight willingly.
“Everyone wants to be undefeated and me and Claressa put on a show for women’s boxing to do it for the team. Now I’m a world champion and I’m able to share that world championship title,” said Crews about stepping up to fight the two-time Olympic gold medalist in their simultaneous pro debuts. “I think if a lot of women should show what you got.”
Both Shields and Crews exploded with thunderous punches that echoed in the T-Mobile Arena when they fought in front of a sparse crowd on November 2016. Since that fight, both former amateur teammates have talked to each other. Crews actually put together Shields outfit when she fought Christina Hammer and has become sort of a seamstress and boxing outfit designer for several other female prizefighters too.
Now the Baltimore boxer has total focus on her boxing career. Despite fighting a fighter of Mexican lineage in front of a mostly Mexican crowd, Crews believes she can win the fans over.
This past Wednesday while at a media day in Los Angeles, Crews was surprised by a visit from one of her old teammates Elizabeth Quevedo from 2005. Both hugged like long-lost sisters.
“We’re like sisters. She’s an OG one of the best in the world,” said Crews about Quevedo as they hugged for minutes. “She was my hero when I was starting out. She’s my sister and she’s Mexican.”
Crews said they met while representing Team USA in international tournaments in Russia and other places at the beginning of the 2000 era.
Quevedo, a multi-national champion but now retired, looks like she could fight tomorrow. She remembers Crews and what she represents when she steps into the boxing ring.
“Franchon is a real fighter. Whatever style the other fighter brings she’s ready to adapt and she’s not afraid of anyone,” said Quevedo. “That’s a real fighter.”
(Photo by Al Applerose)