Conversations with Franchón Crews-Dezurn

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road as they say “greatness takes time” and I’ve been cultivating my talent for a while. I’ve been met with resistance, met with gatekeeping met with hate, but the cream always rise to the top. Being a female and a woman of color in male dominated spaces is definitely not easy. You have some people who are challenged by your confidence or challenged by your intellect. They are challenged by your ambition when that’s actually just who you are and not trying to make someone else feel a certain way. People have tried to downplay my greatness to make themselves or others feel better …You can’t stop something that is divinely ordered. There were points in time where I didn’t get fair shakes in situations.  I’ve endured losses, endured backstabbing and I’m really self-made in a lot of ways. I say that because I had to teach myself stuff, prove to others and advocate for myself. Thanks to the support of those chosen few who push me on a lot of stuff to keep going. I really had to learn on the job so it’s definitely not a smooth journey but it’s all worth it and I’m grateful for it because it built character. My stamina is renewed daily and it made me the person I am today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am what you will call a Renaissance woman and I wear many hats. My bachelor’s degree is in small business management so I manage a few different businesses. My main profession is being a world champion boxer. I’ve been an elite boxer since I was in the amateurs and I’ve become an elite boxer in the pros. When I’m not punching people in the face I am a fashion designer with my brand FranDez By Franchón and I’ve coined myself as a “boxing stylist”. I’ve actually had the opportunity of dressing some of Baltimore’s big personalities like Tiara la Niece and in boxing I’ve dressed many world champions/future world champs including myself, my husband Glenn Dezurn Jr, Claressa Shields, Marlen Esparza the list goes on. My first big Fashion Show was with the baddest little boutique on the planet Katwalk boutique which has been in business for over 25 years. I’ve had showcases at the Baltimore Met Gala and also New York Fashion Week and more. I also specialize in curating events/workshops around Boxing where I’m able to utilize my experience in and out the ring to build and uplift people internally/ externally through motion & through motivational speaking. I also work behind the scenes in boxing where I’ve had the pleasure of promoting fighters and just connecting some dots within that business. As a professional singer/songwriter I also work with other artists and helping them with development. When I’m in the forefront I bring entertainment when booked to do so. Franchón The Heavy Hitting Diva Is a business that is able to bring value to other businesses.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk taking should be my middle name because nothing great happens within your comfort zone. On my journey to where I am there was a point in time where I worked three jobs, pursued my college degree, was a member of Team Usa, took care of my very sick mother, and that was fighting for my dreams. Just betting on myself and one of the biggest risk I took in my career was going professional with Clarissa Shields who at the time had just won her second Olympic gold medal  while I had won my second world medal.  I got a call to fight her for a pro debut in Las Vegas on a 2 1/2 week notice, at this time 13 other girls turned her down and I wasn’t in training because I was prepared for a competition in December. I didn’t get the decision but I was able to parlay that into bigger opportunities and build myself where I wanted to be. I took that risk not only for myself but for women’s boxing as a whole to build that space. I’m always taking risk when I challenge myself to rise to the occasion, that’s the type of person I am I always rise to the occasion. If you give me a little bit, I know how to make it a lot and I think I learned that from my mother Sarah Crews. I’ve been honored to be in boxing history. I went from playing video games to being immortalized in one called UNDISPUTED. It’s on PS5, XBox & PC. There’s a saying that a good woman can make a $1 out of fifteen cents that’s the type of person I am.