Franchon Crews-Dezurn and Elin Cederroos to clash for undisputed
Once again, the women of boxing are on the verge of making history anew. This is because on June 19 WBO and WBC Super Middleweight champion Franchon “The Heavy Hitting Diva” Crews-Dezurn (7-1, 2 KO’s) will face WBA and IBF Super Middleweight champion Elin Cederroos (8-0, 4 KO’s). This prizefight will crown the first undisputed super middleweight champion, man or woman, in the history of the sport. Crews-Dezurn and Cederroos will mix it up on the undercard of Lopez versus Kambosos.
While important and notable, this bout certainly did not just fall out the sky. Franchon Crews-Dezurn has been loudly calling for this bout since early in the year. Aside from voicing her opinion on television, the unified champion took her campaign to her social media pages as well.
Now it looks like all that squeaking got the fight greased up and squared away. The only thing left to do now is watch these talented, fistic-minded females settle who is best in the ring.
CHARMED PATH TO UNDISPUTED BOUT
It only took Cederroos five pro fights before she won a world title in her sixth professional contest. That significant win came at the expense of Femke Hermans. Hermans and Cederroos battled over the vacant IBF title that Claressa Shields had just relinquished. Two bouts later, the Swedish pugilist would pirate away Alicia Napoleon Espinosa’s WBA Super Middleweight strap.
Unfortunately, like the rest of the world, Cederroos hit a significant slump in activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In fact, her fight with Crews-Dezurn will be her first since the Espinosa dustup in January of 2020.
A ROCKY ROAD TO THE TOP
The Virginian native did not start her career out as smoothly as her next in-ring foe. In fact, the Heavy Hitting Diva lost her professional debut to undisputed super welterweight champion Claressa Shields. Undaunted, Crews-Dezurn bounced back with three straight wins and fought for the vacant WBC Super middleweight World title in her fifth pro match. Almost a year to day later, Crews-Dezurn would pick up the vacant WBO Super Middleweight title. Ironically, she beat Maricela Cornejo in the two separate fights to claim both straps.
The Heavy-Hitting Diva would remain flawless following her debut setback until she hit a brick wall named Alejandra Jimenez. The two waged a very memorable and action-packed war that Crews-Dezurn came up on the losing side of. In the aftermath of the prizefight however, it was later discovered that Jimenez had failed a test for PED’s. After the full investigation was completed, Crews-Dezurn had her belts returned and the loss changed to a ‘No Decision.’ Crews-Dezurn is one fight removed from her wild night with Jimenez. Therefore, unlike Cederroos, she has fought this year against Ashleigh Curry just a short five months ago. Now all either woman wants to do is get in the ring and try to carve their names in the history books!
By: Bakari Simpson
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