Claressa Shields Fight Tonight: Dominant 100-90 win over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit

claressa shields fight tonight saw Shields dominate a familiar rival, earning identical 100-90 scores on all three cards to retain the undisputed heavyweight championship in Detroit. The win, and the chaos that preceded it, keeps Shields at the centre of boxing conversation as she weighs future opponents.

Claressa Shields Fight Tonight — shutout on the cards, moves to 18-0 (3 KOs)

Shields delivered a lopsided unanimous decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn, with all three judges scoring the bout 100-90. The victory improved Shields' professional record to 18-0 with three knockouts, while Crews-Dezurn fell to 10-3 with two knockouts recorded on her ledger.

Shields described the bout afterward: "I had to take my time tonight. That's one of the toughest fights I've been in during my pro career. She hits hard these days. " The champion noted she had to adjust early and rely on timing and hand speed to control the rounds.

Rematch rooted in their November 19, 2016 pro debuts and a volatile weigh-in

The fight was a direct rematch of the fighters' professional debuts on November 19, 2016, when Shields also prevailed by unanimous decision. Bad blood had built again this weekend: tensions at the pre-fight weigh-in boiled over into a heated face-off and a clash between their teams, and a separate account described a wild brawl at the weigh-in on Saturday.

Both fighters started aggressively in the opening round, but Shields quickly asserted control with superior hand speed. After the final bell the pair exchanged words briefly before ultimately embracing in the ring.

Medical concerns ahead of the bell and on the card: Crews-Dezurn cleared, Joseph George collapses

Crews-Dezurn was evaluated by a doctor on Sunday morning for knee and ankle issues but was cleared to compete. That clearance preceded the bout but underscored an uneasy build-up to the fight.

On the co-main stage, Atif Oberlton (14-0) faced Joseph George (13-2) in a fight that ended abruptly after one round when George collapsed in his corner. Paramedics treated him at ringside and he was eventually able to leave the ring under his own power. Separate accounts indicated he was later taken to a Detroit hospital, was in stable condition and undergoing an MRI; the bout was recorded as a first-round technical knockout for Oberlton by retirement.

Undercard finishes: Danielle Perkins, Che Kenneally and a Shields protege upset

American light-heavyweight Danielle Perkins (6-1) scored a sixth-round knockout over Australia's Che Kenneally (5-1) to claim the WBA light-heavyweight title. The finish was described as a single, decisive punch that bloodied her opponent and drew knockout-of-the-year discussion.

Elsewhere on the prelims, Samantha Worthington, identified as one of Shields' proteges, suffered a shocking upset loss to Edith Soledad Matthyse, who earned a finish at the end of eight rounds.

Shields' status, stakes and next targets after retaining the undisputed heavyweight crown

Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in women's boxing after moving up from her natural middleweight division and unifying the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts in the new weight class last year. This bout was the first fight of a new multi-fight deal for Shields valued at £5. 9m ($8m).

Ranked No. 2 on a prominent pound-for-pound list, Shields continues to work on adding power with coach John David Jackson, and she named several potential routes forward: a trilogy with Crews-Dezurn at super middleweight, a fight with WBO and IBF super middleweight champion Shadasia Green at super middleweight, or a bout with unified super welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer at a catchweight.

Event setting and atmosphere: Detroit crowd at the home arena

The card drew a strong crowd to Little Caesars Arena, the home arena of the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons, where the heavyweight undisputed title fight headlined a stacked night of action. Shields' decisive performance and the night's dramatic moments — from the weigh-in clash to the medical scare in the co-main and the decisive undercard finishes — ensured a volatile, memorable event.

• Undisputed heavyweight championship result: Claressa Shields def. Franchon Crews-Dezurn, unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90).
• Light heavyweight co-main: Atif Oberlton def. Joseph George R1 TKO/retirement after George collapsed in his corner; George treated by paramedics and later noted to be in stable condition and undergoing an MRI in a hospital account.
• WBA light-heavyweight title: Danielle Perkins def. Che Kenneally sixth-round knockout.