Detroit, MI – Claressa Shields retained her undisputed heavyweight championship Sunday night, defeating Franchon Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision at Little Caesars Arena in front of a crowd exceeding 17,000. All three judges scored the 10-round bout 100-90, solidifying Shields’ position as a dominant force in women’s boxing.
The victory improves Shields’ professional record to 18-0, with two knockouts. It marks her first bout under a recently signed $8 million, multi-fight deal, according to reports. Shields, fighting in her hometown of Detroit, controlled the pace of the fight after a spirited opening from Crews-Dezurn.
“I felt like I had to take my time,” Shields said after the fight. “Franchon hits hard, and she’s tough, and you’ve got to be very tricky with her.” She acknowledged the challenge posed by Crews-Dezurn, adding, “She was trying to cause the upset today and got me with some shots. But Franchon is exactly who she thinks she is — ‘The Heavy Hitting Diva.’ And that’s one of the best fights that I’ve been in in my professional career. Especially at 10 rounds. It was fun. I had to watch my ass every round.”
The bout was a rematch of a November 2016 contest, also won by Shields, which represented both fighters’ professional debuts. The Detroit Free Press reported that tensions flared leading up to Sunday’s fight, with a scuffle occurring at Saturday’s weigh-in that left Crews-Dezurn briefly injured.
Despite a reported knee and ankle injury sustained during the weigh-in incident, Crews-Dezurn came out aggressively, attempting to land early blows and disrupt Shields’ rhythm. However, Shields quickly established control with her superior hand speed and tactical defense.
“She inspires me,” Crews-Dezurn said following the fight. “She came in at a time where I was dominant and shook the table up. When I’m seeing her, I’m like, ‘OK, that’s a point I could get to, or that’s somebody who can keep fire under me,’ and it’s never a jealousy thing. I’m proud of her.”
The event drew a notable crowd, including former boxing champion Terence Crawford, rapper Tee Grizzley, and comedians Mike Epps and Michael Blackson. Shields’ ring walk featured a performance by Lil Boosie, who performed his song “Set It Off.”
Looking ahead, Shields indicated her desire to face Shadasia Green later in 2026. During her post-fight press conference, even as holding her niece, Shields also revealed plans to take a break from boxing in 2027 to start a family. No date for a potential fight with Green has been announced. Forbes reported on these plans following the fight.
A co-main event between light heavyweights Atif Olberlton and Joseph George was stopped after one round when George collapsed in his corner, requiring medical attention before being able to depart the ring under his own power.
