Claressa Shields retains undisputed heavyweight titles after weigh-in brawl and unanimous decision
claressa shields retained her undisputed heavyweight championships in Detroit after a rematch with Franchon Crews-Dezurn that went ahead despite a chaotic weigh-in brawl. The result matters because Shields had the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF heavyweight belts on the line and carried them off by unanimous decision.
Claressa Shields posts shutout on Salita Promotions card at Little Caesars Arena
Shields finished the rematch with a unanimous decision, the judges scoring the fight 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90. The bout took place on a Salita Promotions card at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and one account describes it as a rematch that happened on Sunday; another account described the defense as scheduled for Saturday, unclear in the provided context.
Observers noted that Shields adjusted after an early onslaught from Franchon Crews-Dezurn, took control of the bout and never let it go. The reporting also highlights Shields' work on power with coach John David Jackson.
Weigh-in brawl at Little Caesars Arena left Franchon Crews-Dezurn injured but cleared to fight
A heated face-off at the weigh-in erupted into a brawl between the rival teams at Little Caesars Arena, and Franchon Crews-Dezurn was reportedly injured in the chaos. Promoter Dmitry Salita said: "We're looking forward to an incredible night in front of a sold-out crowd in Detroit. When you have two champions who are fully prepared, confident, and determined to win, emotions can naturally run high. That's what we saw and it simply reflects the intensity surrounding one of the biggest rematches in women's boxing. "
Despite the clash and the reported injury, Crews-Dezurn was able to contest the bout with Shields, and the fight proceeded as scheduled.
A rivalry that began at the Olympic trials and continued through pro debuts
The two fighters have a long history. Six months before the 2012 Olympics, a 16-year-old Shields beat national champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn—who was eight years older—at the US Olympic trials. Shields went on to win gold at the London Games and later added two more amateur victories over Crews-Dezurn.
Their streak continued into the pros: they met on their professional debuts in 2016, giving Shields a fourth successive win over Crews-Dezurn when they first turned professional, and the pair were described as longstanding rivals who have often been "intertwined in each other's lives. " Shields said she expects a rough fight from Crews-Dezurn, warning that "when you fight against Franchon, you're going to get bumps, you're going to get bruises. You may get thrown on the ground. Franchon is a rough and rugged fighter and she's very experienced. "
Contract and career milestones: $8m deal, signing bonus and championship résumé
Shields signed a major multi-fight deal in November with Wynn Records and Salita Promotions worth $8m, and the agreement included an additional $3m signing-on bonus. The deal was described in context as unprecedented for women's boxing.
The coverage lists Shields as a two-time Olympic gold medallist, a five-weight world champion and a three-weight undisputed champion. She first became a world champion at super-middleweight in 2017 and was described as the self-proclaimed "Greatest Woman of All Time (GWOAT). " One passage calls her a 30-year-old who won her first world title in her fourth professional bout, becoming a unified super-middleweight champion.
There are differing accounts of her recent record in the provided context: one item says "claressa shields has three knockout wins from her 17 victories, " while another lists her as 18-0 with 3 KOs; the overall record is unclear in the provided context.
Undercard drama: Perkins KO, Oberlton-George collapse and Worthington upset
The undercard supplied sharp moments. Danielle Perkins scored what was called a Knockout of the Year contender when she bloodied champion Chei Kenneally with a single punch. Atif Oberlton defeated Joseph George a first-round TKO after George collapsed off his stool following an inactive opening round and surrendered the bout by retirement.
Joseph George was rushed to a Detroit hospital; trainer Hylon Williams provided a statement that George is in stable condition and is undergoing an MRI tonight. Also on the undercard, Samantha Worthington, described as one of Shields' proteges, suffered a shocking upset loss to Edith Soledad Matthyse, who earned a finish at the end of eight rounds.
Broadcast and related notes
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. Separately, promotional messaging in the lead-up mentioned other fights to watch, including Caroline Dubois versus Terri Harper live on Sunday April 5, with tickets available.
