Franchon Crews-Dezurn and Savannah Marshall Battle in Manchester and More News

 

By David A. Avila

Protecting her undisputed status with lukewarm fights was not Franchon Crews-Dezurn’s goal. She wants the danger zone.

When Savannah Marshall was about to fight another undisputed champion there was Crews-Dezurn lobbying for the British fighter to meet her next.

That day has come.

Crews-Dezurn (8-1, 2 KOs) travels to Manchester, England to defend all the super middleweight titles against Britain’s Marshall (12-1, 10 Kos) at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. ESPN+ will stream the Boxxer Promotions fight card.

“Savannah’s a pit stop for me” said Crews-Dezurn to Sky Sports Boxing. “My mission is so much bigger.”

Marshall, a four to one favorite, thinks otherwise.

“She’s got all the belts. She brought them here,” said Marshall. “She’s done all the hard work. She brought them all here for me.”

It’s been more than a year since the fighter from Baltimore, Maryland captured the WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF super middleweight titles. Every step of her journey has been a road dotted with landmines that would have felled most prizefighters.

The first pro fight she was asked to fight the great Claressa Shields. Though they lit up T-Mobile arena four rounds, Crews-Dezurn endured her only loss and moved on.

She got a foot in the door fighting Maricela Cornejo for the WBC title five years ago. After a hard-fought win Golden Boy Promotions signed her. But it was tough to find solid opposition.

When an opponent dropped off, once again Crews-Dezurn faced Cornejo. This time the fight was much more heated, but the champion emerged with a solid win and the WBO title too.

Then Crews-Dezurn faced Mexico’s Alejandra Jimenez, the WBC heavyweight titlist who decided to drop down from a high of 236 pounds to 164. After an intense battle which the world saw on television, Crews-Dezurn lost by split decision. However, PED tests revealed Jimenez tested positive for illegal substances. The fight was labeled a no-decision.

Crews-Dezurn kept the WBO and WBC titles in January 2020. Then Covid struck.

Though she fought a year later, opportunities were scarce due to the pandemic.

An opportunity arrived when Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor agreed to fight each other on April 2022 at Madison Square Garden. Crews-Dezurn was offered a fight against Elin Cederroos who held the IBF and WBA titles. The winner would be undisputed.

The overhand right ruled the night for Crews-Dezurn. And though it looked like a stoppage was near, the Swedish fighter rallied back with ferocity. But after 10 rounds there was no doubt that Crews-Dezurn was the champion. A sold-out crowd witnessed the triumph and the fighter who can sing, sew and sling blows was declared the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world.

Now she faces one of the most feared power punchers in the world in Marshall.

Marshall

The tall British fighter has a similar storyline. Things were never easy for the slugger with power in both hands. Though she signed with Mayweather Promotions it did not lead to many opportunities.

Marshall remained in limbo.

But the talent was always there and when things got rolling heads started turning as she ravaged the opposition with her juggernaut style. She always knew how to use her size and length. Most opposition stepped between the ropes fearful of engaging.

Ten of 13 opponents did not last long enough to hear the final bell.

One former opponent, Mexico’s Alejandra Ayala who had faced former world champion Marie Eve Dicaire twice, said Marshall was the hardest puncher she ever faced and she had sparred with many others.

Though Marshall was unable to compete with Claressa Shield’s speed when they clashed, she made adjustments and was able to battle. The tall fighter from Hartlepool known as the “Silent Assassin,” knows how to use her fighting tools.

The winner of this match surely will get another shot at pound for pound best Claressa Shields.

“I’m going to get the rematch. We’re going to fight over Claressa,” said Crews-Dezurn.

Marshall reiterated it.

“I want the rematch.”

There is a lot at stake.

 

Welterweights

In the co-championship bout, IBF, WBC, WBO super welterweight titlist Natasha Jonas (13-2-1, 8 Kos) drops down to welterweight to tangle with contender Kandi Wyatt (11-4, 3 Kos) for the vacant IBF title.

 

Tsunami

Japan’s former world champion Tsunami Tenkai proved still quite dangerous in knocking down Thailand’s Saowulak Nareepangsri (16-23) twice in the third round and out in their super flyweight match last Tuesday in Tokyo.

Tenkai, a former light flyweight world titlist, has knocked out two foes since losing by decision to Seniesa Estrada two years ago. She is taking no chances on the judges. The fighter from Okinawa has fought from light flyweight to super bantamweight but seems comfortable at flyweight and super flyweight.

Few are more ferocious than Tenkai.

 

More fight news

Argentina

Ayelen Granadino (9-1-4) defeated Debora Gomez (8-10-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 24. The South American flyweight title fight too place in Tortuguitas.

On Saturday July 1, light flyweights Maria Sol Baumstarh (7-6-1) and Sofia Mendez (4-2) meet 10 rounds for the South American title at Buenos Aires, Also, lightweights Maira Moneo (12-1) and Alys Sanchez (17-8-1) meet 10 rounds for the interim WBC title.

On Saturday July 1, flyweights Mercedes Reyna (3-0-1) and Eugenia Poma (1-0) meet four rounds at Concordia.

 

Australia

Jemma Peart (2-0) won by decision after eight rounds versus Hannah Morgan (0-2) on Saturday June 24. The light flyweight match was held at Surfer’s Paradise. Also middleweight Desley Robinson (4-1) beat Jamie Edenden (2-3) in eight; and light heavyweight Che Kenneally (2-0) won by majority decision in six.

On Friday June 30, featherweights Skye Falzon (5-2) and Thanchanok Phanan (15-5) meet eight rounds at Fairy Meadow.

 

Colombia

Paulina Angel (5-1-2) beat Jesica Racedo (0-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday June 24. The featherweight fight was held in Barranquilla.

Bexcy Mateus (3-0) knocked out Margarita Granja (1-1) in the fifth round on Saturday June 24. The lightweight bout took place at Bogota.

Johen Gonzalez (6-0-2) defeated Clarena Julio (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday June 23. The super lightweight bout took place at Cartagena.

 

Denmark

Roseanna Cox (1-0) knocked out Nana Chakhvashvili (7-22) in the second round on Saturday June 24. The super middleweight match was held at Kolding.

 

France

Rima Ayadi (9-0) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds against Lucrecia Belen (6-4) on Thursday June 22. The super featherweight fight was held at Paris.

On Wednesday June 28, bantamweights Jeyssa Marcel (9-0) and Carla Campos (5-1) meet eight rounds at Garges les Gonesse.

 

Germany

Nina Meinke (17-3) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Kimika Miyoshi (17-14-2) on Saturday June 24. The WBC featherweight gold title contest was held at Rostock.

Ikram Kerwat (13-3) defeated Claudia Lopez (26-15) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday June 24. The regional super lightweight title match took place at Alfdorf. Also, super welterweight Ema Kozin (23-1-1) beat Timea Belik (7-9) by decision for a regional title after 10 rounds.

Sarah Boorman (17-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Perla Perez (6-8-1) on Saturday June 24. The minimumweight bout took place at Ludwigsburg. Also, lightweight Dilar Kisikyol (9-0) defeated Farina Roemling (4-1) by decision in eight rounds.

On Saturday July 1, super lightweights Alicia Kummer (13-1) and Marija Zivkovic (1-14-1) meet six rounds at Bernau.

 

Italy

On Friday June 30, featherweights Michela Braga (4-0) and Alessia Vitanza (2-3) meet 10 rounds for the Italian Federation title at Tuscany.

On Sunday July 2, minimumweights Consuelo Portolani (3-3) and Gordana Marjanovic meet six rounds at Piemonte.

 

Japan

Tsunami Tenkai (30-13-1) knocked out Saowulak Nareepangsri (16-23) in the third round on Wednesday June 21. The super flyweight fight took place at Tokyo. Tenkai is a former light flyweight world champion. Also, light flyweights Kurumi Saito (1-0) beat Suzuna Okonogi (0-1) by decision after four rounds.

Nao Ugawa (3-0) defeated Sakura Kannari (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Tuesday June 20. The atomweight bout took place at Tokyo. Also, minimumweight Mayumi Nakano (4-1) knocked out Kanae Maehara (2-2-1) in the fourth; Sazanami Valu (3-0) beat Mitsuki Ohashi (2-1); and minimumweights Hamburg Horoki (2-3-1) and Megumi Watanabe (2-0-3) fought to a draw after four; flyweights Tomoka Ota (1-0-1) and Moeko Amo (1-2-1) fought to a draw; and welterweights Mana Kawaguchi (1-2-1) and Risa Akagi (1-0-1) fought to a draw.

 

South Africa

Adidya Mimu (2-1) defeated Nosiacwase Dube (1-5-3) by split decision after six rounds on Friday June 23. The super bantamweight match was held at Polokwane.

 

Spain

On Friday June 30, light flyweights Isabel Rivero (3-2-1) and Griselda Torollari (2-1) met 10 rounds at Valladolid.

 

United Kingdom

Gemma Ruegg (7-7) won by decision after six rounds against Wendellin Cruz (5-8-1) on Saturday June 24. The super bantamweight bout took place at Bournemouth. Also, super middleweights Amy Cooper (0-0-1) and Ester Konecna (3-22-1) fought to a draw after six.

On Saturday July 1, super middleweights Franchon Crews-Dezurn (8-1) and Savannah Marshall (12-1) meet 10 rounds for the undisputed super middleweight world championship at Manchester, England. Also, welterweights Natasha Jonas (13-2-1) and Kandi Wyatt (11-4) meet 10 rounds for the IBF title.

On Saturday July 1, flyweights Marie Connan (5-2) and Kate Radomska (3-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title in London, England.

On Saturday July 1, featherweights Kerry Orton (0-0) and Wendellin Cruz (5-8-1) meet six rounds at Barnsley.

On Saturday July 1, super featherweights Beatriz Ferreira (2-0) and Karla Ramos (10-9-1) meet eight rounds at Sheffield.

 

USA

On Friday June 30, super featherweights Catharine Aiura (1-0) and Ivana Coleman (1-12) meet six rounds at Nashville, Tenn.