Claressa Shields became the main event as rematch with Franchón Crews-Dezurn headlines Detroit
Claressa Shields will headline a rematch against archrival Franchón Crews-Dezurn on Sunday, Feb. 22, and the fight has pushed her into the mainstream spotlight. What was once a career fought in relative obscurity now arrives as a heavyweight main event expected to draw 18, 000 fans to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
"It's a bit much" — Shields and the glare of big arenas and big moments
On a frigid January afternoon, Shields told a reporter, "IT'S A BIT MUCH, " describing the cameras, microphones and eyeballs that await her at Madison Square Garden. She is the undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and was scheduled to make a ringside appearance at the Shakur Stevenson–Teofimo Lopez fight with her boyfriend, Papoose. To prepare for the night, Shields transformed a room in Papoose's New Jersey apartment building into a personal salon, with bottles, jars and powders scattered on a table in front of her.
Makeup, workouts and wardrobe: the routine before fight night
Shields scrolls on her phone and instructs Andi, her makeup artist, about a look that will include shimmer on the eyelids and "Probably use some pink cheeks, too. " She had rinsed her face after shadowboxing at a nearby gym and eaten a meal of fish, rice and spinach. Shields pulled the hood of a bright pink Versace sweatshirt up as she considered a bright red dress hanging in Papoose's apartment upstairs.
From Olympic golds to superstardom: milestones and a public relationship
For more than a decade, Claressa Shields ground in obscurity before breaking through. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2012 and another in 2016, becoming the first American boxer to win back-to-back golds. Fourteen years after her first Olympic gold and nine years after facing Franchón Crews-Dezurn in her pro debut on an undercard in Las Vegas, Shields' profile has snowballed. Last February, at one of her fights, she hard-launched her relationship with Papoose; he is going through a divorce with rapper Remy Ma. That public pairing has fed a new level of attention.
Event logistics: Little Caesars Arena, timing, rounds and expected crowd
The rematch takes place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 22. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds and the main card is slated to start at 8 p. m. ET/5 p. m. PT, with Shields and Franchón Crews-Dezurn expected to make their ringwalks around 11 p. m. ET/8 p. m. PT. Organizers expect about 18, 000 fans for the main event.
Records, titles, odds and how to watch the rematch
Shields enters the fight with a 17-0-0 professional record and defends the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO undisputed Women's Heavyweight Championships. Crews-Dezurn is 10-2-0 and is a former undisputed super-middleweight champion. Nearly 10 years after their first meeting, which Shields won by unanimous decision, the two meet again in what has been described as one of the toughest fights of the year. Oddsmakers make Shields the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -2, 400 and list Crews-Dezurn at +1, 140.
The rematch will be available on a livestream through a subscription service. If a viewer already has the relevant subscription, they can watch at no additional cost; otherwise, plans start at $20. 99 per month for an annual option, a monthly flexible pass is listed at $30. 99 per month, and an "Ultimate Pass" is listed at $44. 99 per month for one year and is described as including pay-per-view events and 11 other pay-per-view events over the next 12 months. After signing up for the service, viewers will be able to purchase access to the Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn 2 livestream. The promotional material notes that purchases through links may earn a commission.
Styles, stakes and national interest
The two fighters present contrasting approaches: Shields is described as technical, precise and fast, while Franchón Crews-Dezurn is portrayed as aggressive and punch-forward, breaking down opponents with pressure and power. Shields is characterized as smart, controlling matches with active jabs and timely attacks; Crews-Dezurn relies on brute force. Shields is characterized with the nickname "T-Rex, " and Crews-Dezurn is called "The Heavy-Hitting Diva. " The 30-year-old Michigan native Shields faces the 38-year-old Crews-Dezurn from Virginia Beach in a matchup that has drawn attention beyond the ring, from fans and celebrities to trolls and commentators — "Joe Schmo to Jake Paul" — and prompted Shields to push back against Instagram trolls, online "liars" and faceless haters in public moments captured during the lead-up. For Shields, the fight inside and outside the ring has been presented as continuous, and her legacy is framed as being on the line as she headlines this main event.
