Juneteenth Belt: Franchon Crews-Dezurn vs. Citlali Ortiz

Franchon Crews-Dezurn, 9-2 (2 KOs), the WBC super middleweight champion will defend her title against 2024 Mexican Olympian Citlalli Ortiz, 4-1 (1 KO).

The card, presented by Salita Promotions, will take place at the International Boxing Hall of Fame at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in New York City on Friday, June 6, streamed at http://dazn.com/wbc.

Franchon comes into this fight after winning the WBC crown in December 2023, defeating Shadasia Green.

Citlalli comes into this fight after defeating Jordanne Garcia in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The winner will take home the Juneteenth Freedom Belt, a special award created by the WBC in 2021 to commemorate an important date commemorating the day slavery was abolished in the United States.

Juneteenth celebrates an ongoing struggle for equality, freedom, decency, human rights, and fundamental humanity, which continues to this day. June 19 is a federal holiday in the United States, and its name is derived from the combination of June and nineteen, marking the anniversary of Major General Gordon Granger’s June 19, 1865, order proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas.

The World Boxing Council has always been unequivocal in its stance against racism. José Sulaimán’s first action after becoming WBC president on December 5, 1975, was to ban South Africa in the fight to overcome terrible apartheid. South African President Nelson Mandela, who had been imprisoned for 27 years and played a decisive role in relegating apartheid to the dust of dictatorships, invited the World Boxing Council to hold its 36th Convention in Johannesburg in 1998.

As part of its global social responsibility campaign, the WBC established the “Freedom Belt,” a special trophy to commemorate the national holiday in the United States.

The first Juneteenth Freedom Belt was won by Jermell Charlo after defeating Juan Macias Montiel in Houston, Texas.

The second edition, held in 2022, unfortunately could not be awarded because Jermall Charlo suffered an injury prior to his fight against Maciej Sulecki.

The 2024 edition was awarded to the Russell brothers in honor of trainer Gary Russell Sr., who passed away in May 2022.

On June 6, we will remember the monumental struggle and sacrifice required to achieve freedom with the fight between Franchon and Citlali.