5’8″ super middleweight Franchón Crews-Dezurn, born on June 13, 1987, in Norfolk, Virginia, had a successful amateur boxing career where she represented United States internationally. WBAN first covered Crews-Dezurn when she fought in the The historic U.S. Olympic Team Trials that took place at the Northern Quest resort, in Spokane, Washington.
She was one of the top l 24 participants that included the following: Claressa Shields, Marlen Esparza, Christina Cruz, Alex Love, Queen Underwood, Mikaela Mayer, Tiara Brown, Cynthia Moreno, Traversha Norwood, Virginia Fuchs, Tyrieshia Douglas, Latonya King, Bertha Aracil, Lisa Porter, N’yteeyah Sherman, Asia Stevenson, Patricia Manuel, Dara Shen, Andrecia Wasson, Tiffanie Ward, Tiffanie Hearn, Tika Hemingway, and Raquel Miller. The below video was taken by Sue TL Fox who covered this event.
Crews-Dezurn made her pro debut on November 19, 2016, at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas, Nevada, facing Claressa Shields, 167. Shields won the bout by a four-round unanimous decision over Franchon Crews, 168. Final judges scores were 40-36 on all cards.
Christy Halbert said, “Amateur boxing, especially USA Boxing, owes a debt of gratitude to both of these athletes, for bringing their best to Team USA, for elevating everyone’s game in the amateurs, and for serving as role models for boxers for generations to come. In sport, champions can only be created if they have worthy opponents. These two have not only served each other as opponents, they have made each other better.
As a former Olympic coach, I selfishly wish they’d stay on as amateurs and earn more international hardware for Team USA. But these days that world seems too small for two women who have helped shape Olympic-style boxing.”
Fast forwarding to 2019, on September 14th, at the Dignity Health Sports Park, in Carson, California, Crews Dezurn, 167.5, won a ten-round unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo, 166¾, where she won the he WBC and vacant WBO Super middleweight world titles.
Golden Boy Promotions signed Crews Dezurn and they wrote the following on her many talents:
Franchon Crews-Dezurn is a woman of many talents including singing, designing and boxing. She became interested in boxing in 2003, looking at it as a good workout to get in shape in order to pursue a singing career. She quickly fell in love with the sport and won the Maryland state title in her first bout in April 2004.
Before turning professional, Crews-Dezurn flourished as an amateur, competing at the national and international levels. During her 12-year amateur boxing career, Crews-Dezurn was an eight-time US Open National Champion, a four-time Pan Am Continental Champion, a two-time National PAL Champion, and a two-time US Olympic Team Alternate.
In 2016, Crews-Dezurn made her professional debut against two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields. Though she lost the close battle, Crews-Dezurn would score three more victories before capturing the WBC Super Middleweight World Title via 10-round majority decision against Maricela Cornejo.
Crews-Dezurn signed with Golden Boy in June 2019, and in that same month she defeated Kayla Williams by a fifth-round knockout in a non-title bout.
Crews-Dezurn then defeated Alejandra Jimenez on the September 2019 undercard of Munguia vs. Allotey at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA, where she unified the WBC and WBO Super Middleweight World Titles.
In January 2020, she fought in a controversial battle against Alejandra Jimenez. Though originally suffering a split decision loss, it was later changed to a no decision by the Texas commission after a positive test for a banned substance from Jimenez.
Then, Crews-Dezurn was rightfully reinstated as the WBC and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion, and she eager to defend her belts against a top opponent.
On January 2, 2021, at the American Airlines Center, in Dallas, Texas, USA, there were nine fights featured on the Golden Boy Promotions Card. In the only female bout scheduled on this card featured Crews-Dezurn vs. Ashleigh Curry. At the weigh-in prior to this fight taking place, Curry came in heavy over the contract weight. Franchon weighed in at 171¼, and Curry came in at 176¼. The weight apparently made no difference as Franchon won the eight round bout by a unanimous decision with the final scoring of 80-72 on all scorecards. Franchon moved her record to 7-1-0 (2KO), and Curry slipped to 8-14-4 (1KO).
Accomplishments:
2004 “American Idol” TV Contestant
2005 US Open National Champion; National Golden Gloves Champion
2006 US Open National Champion; National Golden Gloves Champion;
National Pal Champion; Pan AM Continental Champion
2007 US Open National Champion; National Golden Gloves Champion;
National Pal Champion; Pan Am Champion
2008 US Open National Champion; National Golden Gloves Champion;
Pan AM Continental Champion
2011 US Open National Champion
2012 World Silver Medalist; US Olympic Team Alternate; US Open National Champion; Pan AM Continental Champion
2013 US Open National Champion
2014 National Pal Champion
2015 US Open National Champion
2016 World Bronze Medalist; US Olympic TEam Alternate; Pro Debut on HBO PPV Ward-Kovalev Fight
Photo credits: Facebook
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