Claressa Shields Fight Tonight: Shields Dominates Crews-Dezurn to Retain Undisputed Heavyweight Title
The claressa shields fight tonight unfolded as a one-sided title defense in Detroit, with Shields posting a shutout on the cards and keeping the undisputed heavyweight belts. The result matters because it capped a tense weekend that included a weigh-in brawl, medical concerns for the challenger and a dramatic undercard that left multiple fighters treated or hospitalized.
Little Caesars Arena crowd witnesses 100-90 unanimous decision
Claressa Shields defeated Franchon Crews-Dezurn by identical 100-90 scores on all three judges’ cards in front of a strong home crowd at Little Caesars Arena. The scoreline preserved Shields’ unbeaten professional record at 18-0. Crews-Dezurn took the loss and moved to 10-3. Both fighters came out aggressively in the opening round, but Shields asserted control with superior hand speed and steadily dominated the middle rounds.
Franchon Crews-Dezurn’s medical check and weigh-in brawl
Tensions that boiled over at the pre-fight weigh-in — a heated face-off and a clash between the fighters’ teams the day before — framed the rematch. Crews-Dezurn was evaluated Sunday morning for knee and ankle issues and was cleared to compete. Early in the fight she launched an intense early blitz, but those opening efforts cost her energy: her punches lost their pop after the first half, and she abandoned movement, allowing Shields to control the center of the ring.
Claressa Shields Fight Tonight: rematch of pro debuts and a homecoming
The bout was a rematch of their professional debuts on November 19, 2016. After the final bell Sunday, the pair exchanged words briefly and then embraced in public reconciliation. Shields described the night as among the toughest of her pro career, saying she had to take her time and acknowledging Crews-Dezurn’s power. What makes this notable is that Shields achieved the shutout while continuing to work on added power with coach John David Jackson.
Shields’ status: undisputed heavyweight, new deal and future targets
Shields, rated No. 2 pound-for-pound by Uncrowned in the build-up, remains the undisputed heavyweight champion after having moved up from middleweight and unified the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts last year. The Detroit fight was the first bout under her new multi-fight agreement worth £5. 9 million (about $8 million). After the victory she named potential next opponents, including a trilogy with Crews-Dezurn back at super middleweight, WBO and IBF super middleweight champion Shadasia Green, and unified super welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer at a catchweight.
Atif Oberlton vs Joseph George ends in medical emergency
The light-heavyweight co-main between Atif Oberlton (14-0) and Joseph George (13-2) ended after one round when George collapsed in his corner. Paramedics treated George in the ring and he was eventually able to leave the ring under his own power; he surrendered the contest retirement. Medical responders later rushed him to a Detroit hospital, where he is in stable condition and undergoing an MRI.
Danielle Perkins, Samantha Worthington and undercard drama
On the undercard, American Danielle Perkins (6-1) claimed the WBA light-heavyweight title with a sixth-round knockout of Australia’s Che Kenneally (5-1); the win included a single punch that bloodied the champion and has been labeled a Knockout of the Year contender. Elsewhere, Shields’ protege Samantha Worthington suffered a shocking upset when Edith Soledad Matthyse finished her at the end of eight rounds.
The fight card was promoted by Salita Promotions and broadcast by DAZN. Shields’ tactical adjustment after an early onslaught — shifting from reactive exchanges to controlling range and tempo — was the immediate cause of Crews-Dezurn’s fading effectiveness and the decisive, unanimous outcome.
