FRANCHON CREWS-DEZURN has sent a warning to Savannah Marshall not to overlook her on Saturday night.
The two super-middleweights meet at Manchester’s AO Arena for all four belts currently held by the American. Their fight was elevated to main event status after a second postponement of the Liam Smith-Chris Eubank Jr rematch.
Both women share one common opponent and that is Claressa Shields. Crews and Shields fought one another on their debuts seven years ago while Marshall faced the double Olympic champion last year in London.
Marshall has called for a rematch against Shields since her points defeat to the brilliant middleweight but first, she must go through the difficult challenge that Crews will provide.
‘The Heavy Hitting Diva’ told Sky Sports that she is not in the UK to be used by Marshall to get to Shields.
“I’m not the one to sleep on. If you think you’re going to walk through me, or use me as a stepping- stone, she’s going to have a long night.
“You can’t bully a bully. Whatever she tries to do, I’m going to do it better. It doesn’t matter.
“I think she’s softened in life and hasn’t been hardened in life like I have. I’ve been denied many times as a professional boxer in my boxing career. I’ve been denied plenty of times in life. You learn in life. It is what it is, life is what you make it.
“We fight for two different things. And I don’t think her motivation is as deep as mine.”
Marshall may have lost to Shields, but her reputation received a boost thanks to her performance and having gave the Michigan master one of the toughest fights of her life. Crews says a similar display won’t be enough for Marshall on Saturday.
“I believe she’s going to try to box. But if she tries to fight me the way she fought Claressa [Shields] – I’ll take her words – I’ll mop the floor with her.”
The 36-year-old added: “I’m willing to go how far I have to go to defend my titles and become victorious. It may be an easy night for me, who knows?”
