Franchon Crews-Dezurn

Franchon Crews-Dezurn bloodies and batters Sweden’s Elin Cederroos en route a one-sided unanimous decision to become undisputed Super Middleweight champion

NEW YORK (April 30, 2022) — Women’s boxing may have been all abuzz about one women’s boxing undisputed championship this weekend. However, Baltimore, Maryland native Franchón Crews-Dezurn picked the right moment to have her career-defining performance.

The 34-year old WBC and WBO Super Middleweight champion started quickly, and roughed up undefeated IBF and WBC champion Elin Cederroos from the opening moments of the bout.

Crews-Dezurn’s timing was superior, and despite giving up 2 1/2 inches in height she was able to set up from outside, close the distance regularly and land powerful hooks to the head of Cederroos. The Swede’s nose was bloodied by the third round. The damage from Crews-Dezurn’s power punches – the overhand right in the fight’s first half – started to show on Cederroos’ face.

The bout was stopped at the start of Round 4 so the ringside physician could evaluate Cederroos. The fight continued on and Crews-Dezurn dominated another round as Cederroos found little success setting up her 1-2 combination. With her offense faltering, Cederroos’ defensive flaws cost her repeatedly as she stood upright and squared up often.

The 37-year old old from Vasteraas, Sweden gained a little momentum in the fifth frame. She tried to land her jab more in Round 3, to the head and body, but with the fight slipping away she managed a short rally by just keeping her hands active. The effect was minimal.

Crews-Dezurn answered whenever pressed over the second half of the fight. She showed signs of fatigue in the seventh or eighth, but Cederroos never got herself situated to land enough power punches cleanly to hurt the American.

Cederroos fought through adversity, showed a lot of heart but Crews-Dezurn’s experience and volume was too much to overcome. The judges scored the fight 99-91 on two cards, and then 97-93 for a unanimous decision.

Crews-Dezurn became women’s boxing third current undisputed champion along with Lightweight champion Katie Taylor and Super Lightweight champion Jessica McCaskill. Claressa Shields relinquished all four of her Super Welterweight titles prior to her bout in February, in order to go back up to Middleweight to set up an undisputed collision with WBO champion Savannah Marshall some time later this year.

All photos by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing