This return bout is ten years in the making, as undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) will defend her crown against Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-2, 2 KOs).
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This epic battle features two accomplished world champions. The action is set to take place Sunday night, February 22, at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, airing live on DAZN.
Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn have an extended history. In the amateur ranks, Shields and Crews-Dezurn faced each other three times, and Shields won all three contests.
Back in November 2016, Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn made their pro debuts against each other. The match was very competitive as Shields won by way of unanimous decision.
After losing her pro debut, Franchon Crews-Dezurn went on a five-fight win streak. In the seventh bout of her pro career, Crews-Dezurn defeated Maricela Cornejo and won the vacant WBC super-middleweight world title.
Three years later, in April 2022, Crews-Dezurn conquered the division when she defeated Elin Cederroos and became the undisputed super-middleweight world champion.
Crews-Dezurn suffered a second career defeat when she traveled to Manchester, England, and lost to Savannah Marshall. However, Franchon bounced back and captured championship gold when she beat Shadasia Green.
Now, Franchon Crews-Dezurn will attempt to become a two-weight undisputed world champion. Her opponent is a certified expert in conquering multiple divisions.
After defeating Crews-Dezurn in her pro debut, Claressa Shields became a unified champion in her fourth professional fight when she stopped Nikki Adler in the 5th round and won the WBC and IBF super-middleweight world titles.
Being a unified world champion was impressive, but Claressa Shields took it a step further by dropping down in weight and becoming undisputed. She won undisputed not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions.
The Flint, Michigan, native Claressa Shields captured the undisputed middleweight crown in 2019. Two years later, Shields dropped down to light-middleweight and became a two-weight undisputed world champion.
In February 2025, Claressa Shields continued her historic run by defeating Danielle Perkins and winning the undisputed heavyweight crown. By going undisputed in three divisions, Shields has a solid case for being the best female boxer of this era.
Fighting out of Baltimore, Maryland, the challenger Franchon Crews-Dezurn is a hard-hitting, pressure-fighter who routinely throws punches in bunches, and she does her most effective work inside the pocket.
The defending champion Claressa Shields is a ring technician who has all of the tools. Shields has an elite jab, she is an expert at controlling distance, she has the timing, punch placement, and exceptional hand speed.
On Sunday night, February 22, the undisputed heavyweight world title bout between Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn will be a fire fight. The question is, in her fifth attempt, will Franchon Crews-Dezurn finally get a win over Claressa Shields?
Last Updated on 2026/02/21 at 8:17 PM
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