As a pro rematch vs. undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields potentially awaits the winner, current 168lb queen Franchon Crews-Dezurn ventures to enemy soil tonight looking to avenge a painful amateur defeat twelve years later against former titlist Savannah Marshall. Sound familiar?
No backing down now
- Savannah Marshall described reigning champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn as a strong, rugged and tough competitor before calling this matchup a show-stealer: “If I’m not ready now then I never will be, believe I’m at world level and what good am I in boxing if I can’t beat her?”
- Glenn Dezurn Jr, Franchon’s husband and training partner: “Franchon’s a performer and whatever level you throw at her, she’ll rise above it. I love to see her in big fights, those that push her to the brink because she shows something different. Gonna be a spectacular night, we’ll keep those belts.”
- Peter Fury, Marshall’s head trainer: “We wanted the Claressa Shields rematch but that didn’t happen, super-middleweight suits Savannah as she’s more comfortable there. Franchon is a great fighter, all the belts aren’t over there for nothing – another 50-50 fight, that’s how we want it to be.”
Franchon Crews-Dezurn (c) vs. Savannah Marshall for undisputed super-middleweight world titles
Live today on Sky Sports in UK, ESPN+ in US
Estimated ringwalks around 10pm BST
This one was billed as an eliminator to rematch undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields and during their promotional build-up, neither one bristled at that notion. They both want revenge, yet someone familiar is standing in their way.
At the maiden press conference in late April, BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom waxed lyrical about making big fights and how this one came together.
Liam Smith vs. Chris Eubank Jr II could wait, quite frankly. It will have to now, after Beefy‘s niggling back injury originally forced this date back two weeks from June 17 and now no longer features as the main event after all.
October 15 was another special night for women’s boxing, one on UK soil, and it feels fitting that Sky are making a concerted effort to continue that forward momentum after their successful all-female show.
“Savannah is one of the most recognisable women in the sport, jumps straight into an absolutely huge fight – 50-50 – and stepping up in weight to fight the very best, says all you need to know about her,” he said at the time.
I spoke to Marshall that same day and while there was renewed optimism that she’d get the job done against another American opponent with history from her amateur days, the feeling was different.
On how she reflects after the Shields loss:
“It’s been hard, I’ve gone through every motion under the sun… if I wanted to box again, things like that. Once the clouds disappeared, I was back in the gym ready to right my wrongs and become world champion again.
I got back two months ago [February] and needed that break, it was the longest I’ve been out of the gym since I was 16.”
On whether she’d be at peace if there was no Shields rematch:
“That fight will always be there for me, from my perspective she won’t get money fighting anyone other than me. No-one [was] interested in her June fight, everyone wants to see us together and hopefully, it will again.”
Franchon’s boxing skills have been underestimated by most in the past, but she sold the fight with some bullish talk at the presser.
“Marshall is a phenomenal fighter – we have long history – I respect her for taking another hard fight, valiant effort but it might not be the same.. be a little worse this time. She has a deep amateur pedigree but I always plan to win, I’m not going to lose.”
Ringside that night in London, she would’ve seen strengths and weaknesses up close as Shields outboxed the home favourite over ten pulsating two-minute rounds.
“She used to fight at 168lbs, ducked me as the longest-reigning champion but timing is everything, we’ll finally get it on. I have the opportunity to redeem myself [after the Olympic test event defeat in the amateurs], let’s see if she can stay at world-class level, she’s gonna have a long night if she thinks she’s better.
This isn’t my first rodeo [away from home], Mexicans hated my guys but loved me at the end and the UK will be the same – I’m not fighting her, I’m fighting for women’s boxing. I’m here to motivate other females, the inequalities in pay and exposure… it’s bigger than me and I can’t wait to leave my mark. I’m coming over here and risking my life’s work to build legacy and create more history.”
That sentiment was nice and all, but it suddenly got spicy in ways no-one could’ve predicted as Crews-Dezurn continued her monologue and went from praising an upcoming opponent to scolding rather abruptly.
“You got dogwalked [by Shields], I’ve never had that luxury [of having things handed to me], you think you’re gonna walk over me? It’s gonna be a long night, we fight for two different things.
Even when I win I lose, you ain’t got nothing. It’s gonna be very fun for me – you have a great trainer here [in Peter Fury] but some things you can’t teach, I have it. We don’t train for stoppages, we come for punishment.”
Both have since intensified their talking and while Marshall is favoured to keep those world titles in the UK, we’ll have to wait and see if Franchon has a surprise in store.
Rest of the card, is as follows
10 rounds
10 x 2-minutes – Vacant IBF world welterweight title: Natasha Jonas vs. Kandi Wyatt
Vacant Commonwealth silver super-middleweight title: Zak Chelli vs. Mark Jeffers
Super-middleweight: Callum Simpson vs. Boris Crighton
8 rounds – Ben Whittaker vs. Vladimir Belujsky at light-heavyweight
6 x 2-minute rounds: April Hunter vs. Kirstie Bavington at light-middleweight
4 rounds: Will Howe vs. Jake Darnell at heavyweight
Picture source: Lawrence Lustig / BOXXER
Mo and Sports 