Baltimore boxer Franchon Crews pursues her Olympic dream

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Franchon Crews always wanted to be a professional singer. At 16, she took up boxing to lose weight for her singing career, but soon fell in love with the sport. Known as the Heavy Hitting Diva, Crews is now working toward her new dream: making the women’s U.S. Olympic boxing team. She was an alternate in the London 2012 team, and has been training ever since.

Crews trains at several locations around Baltimore and can often be seen running through the streets. She is currently contending as a middleweight, but holds several national championships in different weight classes.

She recently won a gold medal at the Pathway to Glory Olympic Trials Qualifier II in Baltimore — which makes her eligible to compete in in the Olympic qualifiers in Memphis in October.