Undisputed super-middleweight world champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn, has called Savannah Marshall a ‘weight bully’ ahead of their fight in June.
Marshall had a stellar amateur career, winning both the 2012 AIBA World Championship and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, before bursting onto the professional scene in 2017.
It was there where she established herself as one of Britain’s best female boxers, campaigning in the middleweight division and winning the WBO world title in just her ninth fight. However, after three stoppage victories as champion, Marshall lost her title to an old amateur rival in Claressa Shields in an unsuccessful challenge for the undisputed crown.
Following defeat, the six-foot knockout artist has made the decision to move up to super-middleweight, where she will meet current four-belt holder Franchon Crews-Dezurn.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Crews-Dezurn believes Marshall will come unstuck when facing women of her own size.
“Going down to middleweight [for Marshall’s previous title fights] made her a weight bully,”
“But I’m a true super-middleweight and I feel like she’ll feel the difference in power, physicality and everything. It’s going to be fun. She knows.
“The difference will be just facing me.”
Whilst Marshall’s skill cannot be denied, particularly when considering her amateur pedigree, like Crews-Dezurn some pundits have noted the Silent Assassin’s size advantage over the some of her opponents.
Crewz-Dezurn will be another tough test for Marshall but gives her the chance to answer some critics and prove her that her record is not simply due to physical advantages, with the pair scheduled to meet on June 17th in Manchester on the Smith-Eubank undercard.