Unified champions Elin Cederroos and Franchon Crews-Dezurn can fight for undisputed
In women’s boxing, there is a fight that, when it happens, will crown another undisputed champion. Unified super middleweight champions Elin Cederroos (8-0, 4ko) and Franchon Crews-Dezurn (7-1, 2ko) could clash sometime this year.
Furthermore, it will crown the first-ever super middleweight champion in men’s or women’s boxing history. In addition, the winner would join the ranks of Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Jessica McCaskill, and former undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus.
Ironically, both unified champions are benefactors of the self-proclaimed Greatest Woman Of All-Time, Shields, moving down to middleweight looking to grab the scalp of then unified champion Christiana Hammer (25-1, 11ko) in 2019.
THE PATH TO UNDISPUTED: CEDERROOS
Cederroos’ career was off to a good start, claiming five-straight wins before fighting for the vacant IBF championship. The Swedish boxer defeated Femke Hermans (11-3, 4ko) via a majority decision in 2019.
She would then follow-up that feat with a third-round knockout of Florence Muthoni (12-9-2, 6ko), closing out 2019. Next, she kicked off 2020 by defeating the WBA champion Alicia Napoleon-Espinosa (12-2, 7ko) by unanimous decision.
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down any movement for the unified champion. However, going into 2021, team Cederroos is more than likely considering going for undisputed.
THE PATH TO UNDISPUTED: CREWS-DEZURN
Crews-Dezurn’s career started with a fight against the self-proclaimed G.W.O.A.T in both fighters’ debut bout. Moreover, despite losing to the former two-time Olympic gold medalist, she was able to recover by winning the next three fights before challenging for the vacant WBC title against Marcela Cornejo (13-4, 5ko) – another belt that was dropped by Shields back in 2018. The 33-year-old Virginia native would continue to thrive by defeating Kayla Williams (0-5-1) via fifth-round knockout and won the vacant WBO championship in a rematch against former foe Cornejo in 2019.
Crews-Dezurn lost both titles against former WBC heavyweight champion Alejandra Jimenez (12-0-1, 9ko) in 2020. However, it was revealed the Mexican female fighter tested positive for a banned substance and after completing the investigation process, the WBC and WBO reinstated Crews-Dezurn as the unified champion.
Despite fighting above the light heavyweight limit against Ashleigh Curry (8-14-4, 1ko) on January 2, she is still listed as a champion by both organizations. Hopefully she can make weight in an attempt to make history fighting for the undisputed crown. This would be an amazing accomplishment for both champion. This rings true not only for women’s boxing, but for the sport itself. Both champions can cement their names in the halls of boxing history.
By: Garrisson Bland
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