Claressa Shields Fight Tonight — Shields Dominates Crews-Dezurn Again in Detroit
claressa shields fight tonight ended with Claressa Shields posting a lopsided 100–90 unanimous decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, keeping her undisputed heavyweight championship and pushing her professional record to 18-0.
Claressa Shields Fight Tonight — How the main event unfolded
Shields defended the undisputed heavyweight crown with identical 100-90 scores on all three judge's cards, while Franchon Crews-Dezurn fell to 10-3 (2 KOs). Both fighters started aggressively in the opening round, but Shields quickly asserted control with superior hand speed and adjusted after the early onslaught to take command of the bout.
Rematch of the 2016 debuts and the fraught build-up
The fight was a rematch of their professional debuts on November 19, 2016, when Shields also won by unanimous decision. The build-up included a heated face-off and a clash between their teams at the pre-fight weigh-in, and one account described a wild brawl at the weigh-in on Saturday. Crews-Dezurn was evaluated by a doctor Sunday morning for knee and ankle issues but was cleared to compete.
What Shields said and what it means
After the final bell the fighters exchanged words and then embraced. Shields said, "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 victory came in the first fight of Shields' new £5. 9m ($8m) multi-fight deal, and she remains the first undisputed heavyweight champion in women's boxing after moving up from middleweight and unifying the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts in her new weight class last year.
Card highlights: Oberlton, George, Perkins and an upset on the undercard
The co-main light-heavyweight bout between Atif Oberlton (14-0) and Joseph George (13-2) ended after one round when George collapsed in his corner; one account says paramedics treated him and he was able to leave the ring under his own power, while a separate account says he was rushed to the hospital and was in stable condition and undergoing an MRI. On the undercard, Danielle Perkins (6-1) scored a sixth-round knockout over Australia's Che Kenneally (5-1) to claim the WBA light-heavyweight title; another description of the finish called the single punch a Knockout of the Year contender that bloodied champion "Chei Kenneally. " Samantha Worthington, a protege of Shields, suffered a shocking upset loss to Edith Soledad Matthyse, who finished the bout at the end of eight rounds.
Broadcast, crowd and future opponents Shields named
The card was promoted by Salita Promotions and broadcast on DAZN from Little Caesars Arena, the home arena of the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons, and drew a strong crowd. Shields, listed at 18-0 with 3 KOs in one account, said she continues to work on power with coach John David Jackson and named three possible future targets: a trilogy with Crews-Dezurn at super middleweight, WBO and IBF champion Shadasia Green at super middleweight, or unified super welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer at a catchweight.
- Undisputed heavyweight championship: Claressa Shields def. Franchon Crews-Dezurn — unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
- Light heavyweight: Atif Oberlton def. Joseph George — ended after R1 when George collapsed (one account: left ring under own power; another account: rushed to hospital, in stable condition)
- WBA light-heavyweight title: Danielle Perkins def. Che Kenneally — KO R6 (also described as a single-punch KO that bloodied "Chei Kenneally")
Next on the calendar is the continuation of recovery and medical checks for fighters affected by the card's injuries, and Shields' next fight will follow the terms of her new multi-fight deal while she considers the opponents she named. The promoter and broadcast schedule will determine the next confirmed date for Shields' return.
