Ladies Night In Manchester, Thunder Night In Sheffield

After a week away from the screens, British boxing returns as Matchroom and Boxxer open up July’s schedule. 

Let’s start with Manchester, where both Savannah Marshall and Natasha Jonas have opportunities to cement their place as two-weight world champions. 

Marshall’s shot at super-middleweight supremacy comes against the ‘Hard-Hitting Diva’ Franchon Crews-Dezurn. 

The Virginia native issued the challenge directly to Marshall, barely minutes after she had lost to long-term rival Claressa Shields last October. 

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Now, another brash American is on British shores, ready to scratch her name into the flourishing female history books.  

However, there needs to be some degree of realism. Crews-Dezurn is the champion of a division with 32 active fighters. Number seven-ranked Nailini Helu has a record of 3-4-1. 

There is no disrespect here, I am aware that I am judging people on standards I certainly have never met. But in Crews-Dezurn, I don’t see a threat that matches up to her energy. 

Let’s take Shields as the example. She bowled into London with the ultimate don’t give a f*** attitude, only then to drop a career best performance in a high-pressure grudge match. 

That was boss level stuff.

However pre-fight, Shields had a backlog of high-level wins, having already cemented herself as one of the sport’s early icons. 

In Crews-Dezurn’s nine bouts as a professional, she has done little to convince that she is of the ilk of her fellow countrywoman. Then again, when better to do so than on Saturday’s stage?

For Marshall, as always, it is laser focus on the job at hand. A win at the AO Arena, and her four-belt dream will become reality. 

Natasha Jonas’s shot at history comes in a package much tamer, yet undeniably threatening. 

Canadian Kandi Wyatt stands in Jonas’ way of making history as a two-weight world champion. 

Victory would mark an unrivalled 18 months for Jonas, whose decision to move up in weight, and move across the promotional border, now looks to be one of tremendous judgement. 

World title number one last February was swiftly followed by two quickfire unifications. The British Boxer of the Year accolade followed as Jonas became the award’s first female recipient. 

Now, history beckons, and a razor-sharp Jonas will be more than confident that she can put away the seasoned Wyatt. 

To Sheffield, and a forecast of thunder. 

Dalton Smith’s quest to win the British title outright takes perhaps its most difficult turn, as he faces Sam Maxwell. There is no doubt that this is a fight laced with jeopardy. 

But if Smith is what he and his team believe he is, then the Lonsdale belt will sit pride of place in his house come Sunday morning. 

However, before the reward, Smith will have to do battle in a fight that carries one of boxing’s most exciting narratives - prospect against an old hand. 

Now I’m not doing Maxwell any injustice here. This isn’t a fighter who is hanging on to the sport by the tip of his fingers. This is a fighter who has seen most of what the sport has to offer. 

A former holder of the British title at 140lbs, he by no means will want to be just another chapter in Smith’s story to the top. 

For Smith, this fight is exactly that. 

He won’t overlook Maxwell, but he, and everyone involved in his journey, know this is a mere passage to what they believe is world title territory. 

Let me tell you one thing, whether he makes it or not, it will be f****** fun finding out. 

Oscar Bevis

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