Claressa Shields Dominates Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Rematch

Rematch ten years later left no doubt on the scorecards

Claressa Shields retained the undisputed women’s heavyweight championship with a 100-90 unanimous decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit. Once she established the jab, the scorecards never shifted.

Ten years after their four-round professional debuts, Claressa Shields (18-0) and Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-3, 2 KOs) met again Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena, this time over ten rounds for the undisputed women’s heavyweight championship. Shields, now unbeaten in 18 fights, retained her WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles by wide unanimous decision in a bout that gradually slipped out of Crews-Dezurn’s reach.

The fight streamed live on DAZN, with Shields making a hometown walkout alongside rapper Boosie after a week that had already seen tempers boil over at the weigh-in.

Crews-Dezurn came forward early and forced exchanges in the opening rounds, looking to rough Shields up and test her in close. Shields absorbed the pressure and, when she created space late in the second, snapped a counter left hook as Crews-Dezurn stepped in, an early sign that timing would trump aggression. In the third, Crews-Dezurn muscled Shields to the ropes and leaned on her, but Shields found just enough room to fire back with a sharp right hand.

By the fourth, Crews-Dezurn’s fast start had begun to slow, her mouth open as she tried to draw air while Shields settled into rhythm. The champion began dictating distance and pace with quicker feet, tighter defence, and sharper combinations.

After the middle rounds, the difference in hand speed and timing was clear. Shields worked behind a disciplined jab, circled off Crews-Dezurn’s pressure, and answered every push with tight three and four punch combinations. She split the guard with straight rights and dug left hooks to the body, slowing Crews-Dezurn’s workrate and drawing her into clinches to buy seconds.

Crews-Dezurn never consistently stepped outside Shields’ lead foot to disrupt the jab. Without that adjustment, she was walking into straight right hands.

The scorecards told a one-sided story at 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90. Shields banked every round without drama and kept the belts.

Afterward, she pointed to three possible targets and said she would move down in weight for the right fight. A third bout with Crews-Dezurn at super middleweight remains an option. WBO and IBF champion Shadasia Green at 168 is another. She also mentioned unified super welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer at a catchweight if terms can be reached.

Shields kept it simple. Jab first, feet set, combinations behind it, and the belts stayed in her corner.