Today we’d like to introduce you to Franchon Crews-Dezurn.
Hi Franchon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up I’ve always been different, creative, athletic, and very intelligent. My talents came naturally to me basically if I thought it I would do it or figure out a way to get it accomplished. My mother and father never allowed my spirit to be broken most of my issues came from people in the world. I have all brothers so growing up fighting and being rough was second nature. Singing and songwriting were passions of mine from a young age and I was self-taught. After relocating from VA to Baltimore, MD I met my mentor who said I needed to lose weight to fit the physical standards that were held at that time period. While in the studio recording and two friends of mine said I could lose 5 pounds in one day with boxing. It was very enticing so I went with them to the boxing gym. After that day I never left and my life was changed forever.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My road to success has never been smooth from never garnering the support from my city, not fitting in, and really having to figure it out on my own. Women’s boxing had been around but it wasn’t as advanced or popular as it is now. At the time I was considered a new age pioneer and things were difficult as people tried to discourage you and never supporting. This was before the social media era where you could “look” like a real boxer and not even have accolades. It was important to me to build a legacy that is etched in the DMV’s history and world history. Even to this day, I do not receive proper recognition in Baltimore, MD but it is truly a driving force for something I am passionate about. My boxing journey started around 2005 the same year my mother became very sick and I appeared on American Idol. Sarah Marie Crews spent 3 months in the hospital and on the day, she came home I made it to the finals of my first U.S. Open Boxing National tournament. I went on to win it and vowed that as long as she fought to live, I would fight to win. My husband Glenn Dezurn Jr. who is also a professional boxer supported her and I vigorously until we lost her in 2016. That was very hard to take but it turned me into a real savage and motivated me to go harder.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known worldwide as “The Heavy Hitting Diva”… heavy hitting for my heavy hands and boxing ability and diva for the way I carry myself outside the ring. Not the typical diva of being rude but my graciousness, fashion sense, singing ability and so much more. What sets me apart is that I am multifaceted and excel at pretty much anything I choose to do. As a self-taught fashion designer, I’ve had my garments worn by world champions on national and international TV networks. I’ve been on the cover of a magazine actually wearing my own designs in the spread. I’ve sang next to the late Colin Powell for the USA 200-year anniversary. Traveling the world with boxing before I was 21 seeing so much of the world is a blessing. In 2011 I made US, World & Black history by being the 1st black woman to qualify and 1 of 3 represent the USA on in the Pan American Games. I was one of the first 24 women to ever compete in the 1st ever US women Olympic trials for boxing. As a professional, I was the 1st Black woman to be self-managed and without a promoter to become a world champion. I’ve done so much and I’m just now reaching my prime with so much more to accomplish.
How do you define success?
Jay-z said ” We measure success by how many people successful next to you” and that resonated with me because I want to inspire people in my tribe to be their best. My personal success has been defined by my ability to lose it all and get it back 10-fold by defeating the odds and maintaining self-belief.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @thehhdiva
- Facebook: facebook.com/thehhdiva
- Twitter: @thehhdiva
