Claressa Shields Fight: claressa shields fight — Undefeated Shields praises rival Crews-Dezurn ahead of title bout

claressa shields fight headlines a Sunday undisputed heavyweight title defense at Little Caesars Arena, and Shields used a Thursday news conference to praise Franchon Crews-Dezurn rather than trade barbs. Standing behind a clear podium in a stylish pink fur coat, Shields offered high praise while Crews-Dezurn sat at a nearby table to Shields' left.

Claressa Shields Fight build-up

Shields called the matchup significant for both fighters, saying that with the contest at heavyweight it "brings more notoriety to her name, to my name, to the event. " The undefeated Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) framed the bout as a moment that will "etch" both of their careers in history from the amateurs to pro debuts to their heavyweight meeting.

News conference details

The exchange took place Thursday. Shields stood behind a clear podium and wore a stylish pink fur coat. Crews-Dezurn was seated at a nearby table to Shields' left. The two offered mostly respectful remarks and both promised to deliver an action-packed match to fans.

Records and rivalry

Shields is 17-0 with 3 KOs. Crews-Dezurn is 10-2 with 2 KOs. The pair climbed the ranks together as longtime amateur rivals and then faced off in their 2016 pro debuts, when Shields earned a four-round decision victory.

Titles and partnerships

Sunday's bout will mark the second defense of Shields' undisputed heavyweight crown. Shields won that crown in February 2025 in a unanimous decision over Danielle Perkins. The fight will also be the first under Shields' multifight partnership with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records that she signed in November after toying with the idea of free agency; the deal, worth $8 million, is the largest for a female boxer.

Crews-Dezurn's recent run

After losing to Shields in 2016, Crews-Dezurn won her next nine fights and became the undisputed super middleweight champion. She dropped that crown in 2023, then won her next two fights: beating Shadasia Green in 2023 for the WBA interim and WBC super middleweight titles and making a successful title defense against Citlalli Ortiz in 2025. The Virginia native said the matchup has long been in the making and called their journeys "intertwined. " She added that seeing both of their faces on artwork around the arena and on the internet "means the world to me, " and declared, "February 22nd when I'm victorious, it's definitely something that I set out to do. "

Shields' history and motivation

Shields, a native of Flint, Michigan, said Crews-Dezurn was the first woman she researched as a teenager while preparing for her first Olympics in 2012. At 17, Shields became the first American woman to earn a gold medal for women's boxing. She then captured a second gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 at age 21. Speaking about Crews-Dezurn, Shields said the rival was her motivation and that she "found film on her online" and watched it, noting that she knew from a young age that Crews-Dezurn "hit hard. "

Both fighters pledged intensity and an action-packed encounter when they meet for Shields' second defense on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.