BY KEITH IDEC
December 15, 2023
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Franchon Crews-Dezurn smothered Shadasia Green’s power at times and landed enough punches to regain her WBC super-middleweight title Friday night in Orlando, Florida.
Crews-Dezurn defeated the previously unbeaten Green by unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC 168-pound crown on the Jake Paul-Andre August undercard at Caribe Royale Orlando. Judges Alexander Levin (98-92), Frederick Fluty (97-93) and Tina Griffith (97-93) credited Crews-Dezurn for winning an ugly fight that included more clinches than clean punches.
The 34-year-old Green (13-1, 11 KOs), a former Division I point guard from Paterson, New Jersey, entered the ring as an 8-1 favorite over the former undisputed 168-pound champion. She couldn’t connect with the type of punches against the crafty Crews-Dezurn, however, that enabled Green to knockout all but two of her first 13 pro-opponents.
Baltimore’s Crews-Dezurn, 36, regained the WBC women’s super-middleweight title she lost to England’s Savannah Marshall five months ago. England’s Marshall defeated Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs, 1 NC) by majority decision to win the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts July 1 at AO Arena in Manchester, England.
The injured Marshall was named the WBC’s champion recess late in September, which enabled Crews-Dezurn and Green to fight for the vacant WBC belt.
Green seemingly needed a knockout in the 10th and final round, yet she couldn’t catch Crews-Dezurn with a consequential shot in those final two minutes. Crews-Dezurn landed a right and then a left about 20 seconds into the 10th round.
Green landed more punches during the ninth round than in many of the previous rounds, but Crews-Dezurn tied her up enough to keep her from building any momentum. Green caught Crews-Dezurn with a left hook that knocked her off balance five seconds into the ninth round.
Crews-Dezurn’s right landed to the side of Green’s head with about 45 seconds to go in the eighth round. Green landed a short left hook on the inside a little less than 30 seconds into the eighth round.
Crews-Dezurn landed a right hand and then a combination with under 30 seconds on the clock in the seventh round. Crews-Dezurn went down about 10 seconds into the seventh round, but it was ruled a slip.
Crews-Dezurn’s jab landed several times during the sixth round. She made Green miss wildly with a left hook toward the end of the sixth round as well.
Green’s left hook landed with just under 1:20 on the clock in the sixth round, but Crews-Dezurn landed a left hook of her own several seconds later.
There weren’t many flush punches landed during a fifth round beset by clinches. Crews-Dezurn landed a jab with just under a minute to go in the fifth round.
A right hand by Green connected with 1:10 to go in the fourth round. Green later landed a left to Crews-Dezurn’s body with just under 10 seconds on the clock in the fourth round.
Green landed a hard right to Crews-Dezurn’s body with about 10 seconds to go in the third round. Crews-Dezurn landed a jab that stopped Green from coming forward with just under a minute remaining in the third round.
Green and Crews-Dezurn traded hard shots with just under 40 seconds on the clock in the second round. Crews-Dezurn landed a right hand, but Green quickly countered with a left hook in the opening 10 seconds of the second round.
Green tied up Crews-Dezurn several times in the first two minutes and didn’t land many punches in the opening round. Crews-Dezurn was warned for hitting Green on the back of her head during the final minute of the opening round.
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