Savannah Marshall did exactly what she said she would, overcoming a gruelling 20-minute battle over ten rounds against Franchon Crews-Dezurn – snatching the American’s undisputed super-middleweight world titles – as former foe Claressa Shields watched ringside. On the basis of this showing though, it’s difficult to see anything besides a repeat result in a prospective rematch.
Marshall masters Crews-Dezurn challenge in tiring tussle
95-95, 99-92, 97-93: Savannah Marshall bt. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (c) via majority decision, wins undisputed super-middleweight world titles
- “I can’t describe how I’m feeling at the minute, thanks to everyone who came out – if you didn’t buy a ticket, I wouldn’t be in this position,” Marshall thankful for the fervent crowd support in her favour once more
- On the scorecards, future plans and a Shields rematch: “Some rounds were close but I landed the cleaner shots, Shadasia Green is the mandatory and I don’t think I can make middleweight anymore, it’s a bit of a squeeze so we’ll see. Why not come up to 168, try become undisputed in another weight?”
- BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom insists Claressa Shields rematch has to be next, undisputed middleweight champion was there supporting a friend in Franchon but warns Marshall against taking it at super-middleweight
Claressa Shields spoke of her pride that friend Franchon Crews-Dezurn didn’t get knocked down or stopped by Savannah Marshall, proving they’re on the same – or at least a similar – skill level.
It was a moral victory but not an actual one for the 36-year-old, who now finds herself in purgatory as far as world championship fights are concerned.
She’s in the back nine of a career that included 11 years and 75 fights as an amateur, and spoke passionately in the build-up about an opportunity to redeem herself against a lovable Brit like Shields did herself nine months prior.
Roughing the challenger up worked well enough early on, but she needed more than that to depart British soil with her titles still intact.
Flicking out the jab while admittedly not being easy on the eye, it did enough to keep Marshall on the end of her punches during their scrappier exchanges.
Yet that tactic didn’t last either, as the crowd roared in excitement and anticipation every time Marshall connected with something of note through two rounds.
R3 was untidy with plenty of inside fighting, Marshall starting to time the champion better when she leaned forward and threw punches in bunches, but it wasn’t an easy round to score. Well, unless you were Shields screaming instructions ringside.
“I have it 3-0 to Franchon, haven’t seen Savannah win a round yet, she keeps falling short with her right hand and isn’t able to hit her,” she confidently told Sky’s Andy Scott.
One thing was clear: Marshall needed to keep her distance, better utilise the physical advantages at her disposal and punish Crews-Dezurn.
Both were telegraphing their haymakers up close, but importantly in the fourth Marshall had a more encouraging finish to another competitive round.
Peter Fury, her head trainer, wasn’t exactly happy with what he was seeing from his charge and made sure she was aware after that round.
“Mix it up, you’re rushing, remember what I told you,” and before long, the optics were firmly in her favour as she backed up the champion with better punch output.
Able to hold her own as far as their overtly physical exchanges were concerned, especially after being almost wrestled to the ground at one point, would’ve given her a psychological boost too.
Round six was rough and ragged with good spells by both, Crews-Dezurn fared much better in the seventh before Marshall frequently tied her up as their inside battles resumed once more.
It was no surprise both were visibly tiring, having expended energy aplenty at a high intensity. Crews-Dezurn’s work included investing to the body, though Marshall had countered well enough to land combinations of her own.
The cleaner work – even while guilty of smothering her shots in stages – the lopsided scorecards merely reinforce what was a difficult fight to score. That said though..
What’s next? The good and the bad
“[I saw] a lot of weaknesses and she didn’t learn from her last fight. I agreed with the first judge who had it 95-95. The fight was close – I expected a better performance from both girls,” Shields said afterwards.
The one thing that was painfully clear, was Marshall’s inability to dissuade Crews-Dezurn from marching forward by sticking a stiff jab in her face.
This was a welcome world championship win closer to her natural walkaround weight and at 32, the Silent Assassin should take heart from this entire experience.
However, she boxes as though she isn’t a big, physically imposing world champion with height and reach advantages that can keep her successful at long-range.
Being embroiled in an exhausting slugfest does nothing as far as visuals are concerned, besides question the smarts of opponents standing opposite her.
Shields is far more defensively savvy than her friend, and can attack in ways that Marshall hasn’t otherwise seen during her professional career.
This could’ve been a perfect segue into a rematch between two rivals who had a competitive-but-not-close first fight, yet instead we’re left ruing Marshall’s inability to showcase what she’s improved upon after that painful first pro defeat last October.
You may argue there wasn’t much chance to see her full arsenal before, blasting out overmatched opposition beforehand. So is this just who she is? Perhaps a matchup with Shadasia Green (12-0, 11 KOs) is better suited for her next fight, if that’s the case.
The card’s other results
Welterweight: Natasha Jonas bt. Kandi Wyatt via R8 TKO, 0:33 to win vacant IBF world welterweight title
Light-heavyweight: Ben Whittaker bt. Vladimir Belujsky via R8 TKO, 1:49
Super-middleweight: Mark Jeffers bt. Zak Chelli via UD (97-93, 97-94, 97-94)
Super-middleweight: Callum Simpson bt. Boris Crighton via UD (99-92, 97-93, 99-91)
Light-middleweight: April Hunter bt. Kirstie Bavington (76-75)
Heavyweight: William Howe bt. Jake Darnell (40-36)
Picture source: Lawrence Lustig / BOXXER
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