Claressa Shields will have a familiar foe in her next bout, as she faces Franchon Crews-Dezurn in a rematch for Shields’ heavyweight championship on Sunday, February 22, in Detroit.
Shields (17-0, 3 KO) and Crews-Dezurn (10-2, 2 KO) both turned pro against one another in November 2016, so the rematch will come just over nine years from that fight. It was a four-round bout that time around, with Shields sweeping all four cards from all three judges in Las Vegas.
Now, the 30-year-old Shields is the most decorated woman in pro boxing history, having won so many titles that she’s even done so in divisions that only really exist based on her presence.
Crews-Dezurn, 38, currently holds the WBC super middleweight title, which won’t be on the line. The two fighters have long been friendly with one another, and regarded the other with respect, and talk of a rematch has been out there the last few years, with the limited pool available at the higher weights, from 168 up.
“In 2016 I had just come off winning two Olympic gold medals, fresh out of the amateurs, and finding an opponent was tough, Franchon stepped in,” Shields said. “I’ve grown a lot since that first victory, going on to win 19 world titles, the ESPY award, and countless other achievements, but me and Franchon have unfinished business that needs to be settled. She’s been poppin’ it like she can whoop me in a world championship fight. We went four rounds in our pro debut, and this fight will pick up from round five.”
As usual, Shields predicted a KO. “I plan on putting Franchon on her back and leaving with the KO. My last few fights, I was dealing with injuries, but now I’m 100 percent. Franchon is elite, but I am super elite, and I plan on proving that come fight night.”
“I’ve been waiting and working a long time for this moment, and we finally meet again,” said Crews-Dezurn. “This time as established champions with great legacies. I’m daring to be even greater by going up in weight, strutting into hell so I can create my heaven. I’m a worldwide woman that’s good in any hood and can’t wait to give Detroit, along with the world, a great fight.”
Shields fought twice in 2025, beating Danielle Perkins and Lani Daniels in February and July, both by 10-round decision. Crews-Dezurn fought in June, beating Citlalli Ortiz to retain her WBC title after not fighting at all in 2024.
DAZN will stream the event.
