The title is ten years in the making, as undefeated heavyweight champion Claressa Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) will defend her title against Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-2, 2 KOs).
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This epic fight features two reigning world champions. The action is set to take place on Sunday night, February 22, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, and will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn have an extended history. In the rookie ranks, Shields and Crews-Dezurn faced off three times, with Shields winning 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 unanimous decision.
After losing his pro debut, Franchon Crews-Dezurn went on to win five fights. With the seventh belt of her professional career, Crews-Dezurn defeated Maricela Cornejo and won the vacant WBC super-middleweight world title.
Three years later, in April 2022, Crews-Dezurn won the title when he defeated Elin Cederroos and became the undisputed super-middleweight world champion.
Crews-Dezurn suffered her second career loss in Manchester, England, losing to Savannah Marshall. However, Franchon bounced back and took championship gold when she beat Shadasia Green.
Now, Franchon Crews-Dezurn will try to become the undisputed two-weight world champion. His opponent is a proven multi-division champion.
After defeating Crews-Dezurn in her debut, Claressa Shields became the joint 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 weight and being undisputed. He won indisputably, not once, not twice, but three different times.
Flint, Michigan, native Claressa Shields took the undisputed middleweight crown in 2019. Two years later, Shields moved down to light-middleweight and became the undisputed two-weight world champion.
In February 2025, Claressa Shields continued her historic run by defeating Danielle Perkins to win the undisputed heavyweight crown. Going undisputed through the three divisions, Shields has a strong case for being the best female boxer of this era.
Fighting out of Baltimore, Maryland, opponent Franchon Crews-Dezurn is a hard-hitting, pressure fighter who often throws punches in bunches, and does his best work inside the pocket.
Defending champion Claressa Shields is a ring specialist with all the tools. Shields has an elite jab, expert distance control, timing, punch placement, and exceptional hand speed.
On Sunday night, February 22nd, the heavyweight title fight between Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn will be a firefight. The question is, in her fifth attempt, will Franchon Crews-Dezurn finally win over Claressa Shields?
Last updated on 2026/02/21 at 8:17 PM
