Coming into her fight against Franchon Crews-Dezurn back in December, Paterson New Jersey’s Shadasia Green (14-1, 11 ko) had long been Crews-Dezurn’s mandatory for her WBC title. Crews-Dezurn had been the reigning champ for some time, but after losing her championship to Savannah Marshall in July of 2023, Marshall was stripped of that title because of foreseeable inactivity due to injury. It was subsequently announced that Green and Crews-Dezurn would fight for that vacant title December 15, 2023. 

Green had created a buzz in recent years with her slick style and highlight reel knockouts, a thing that at times can be difficult to find in women’s boxing. She offered a level of skill and excitement that the sport desperately needed. She also looked to be an interesting test for the divisions other stars, Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall, who after fighting each other in an action packed but clear decision win for Shields were both in need of intriguing opposition. But a win against Crews-Dezurn would have to come first. 

When the opening bell rang on the night, Green looked hesitant. Despite landing the cleaner shots, Crews-Dezurn’s mauling physical style seemed to throw her off her game. Constant clinching went without warning from the referee, and Franchon did everything she could to make it a mauling, rugged, and often difficult fight watch to smother the power punching Green. When the scorecards were read, Shadasia would suffer her first defeat.

The in-ring fight wasn’t the only fight she was fighting. “Leading up to the Franchon camp I was betrayed and removed from my home gym” Green told ITRBoxing, a destabilizing moment for any fighter mid camp. She would go through some changes after that fight, and that started with a return to her original trainer Barry Porter. 

When the bell rang last Saturday, headling the preliminary card for Jake Paul vs Mike Perry, Shadasia came out with a fast power-jab and immediately dictated the range and pace of the fight. She let her hands go in combination, placed her shots and showed flashes of the power that had initially gotten boxing fans attention. Spence (8-5-2, 6 ko) for her part was at times effective countering with a looping right hand, but Green would make the adjustments as the fight wore on and move her head of be out of range in time for the answer. A slip would be ruled a knockdown in the 7th, but it would ultimately have no effect on an otherwise dominant performance. 

What comes next for Green is not yet clear, but her motivations remain the same. But this fight served as a reminder that Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green is back on the winning track and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “It felt great to be back in the ring. I fell back in love with it. Its no secret that I want to be champion”.