Claressa Shields dominates Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit, retains undisputed heavyweight crown
claressa shields defended her undisputed women’s heavyweight titles with a lopsided unanimous points victory over Franchon Crews-Dezurn at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, a result that cements her position at the top of the division as she begins a new $8m multi‑fight agreement. The win matters now because it was both a rematch of the fighters’ professional debuts and the first bout of a high‑value contract that is expected to shape Shields’ next two years in the sport.
Claressa Shields' unanimous 100-90 victory
Shields earned identical 100‑90 scores on all three judges’ cards after the scheduled 10‑round bout, improving her professional record to 18‑0 while Franchon Crews‑Dezurn moved to 10‑3. The 10‑round contest featured continuous exchanges but ended as a decisive decision: judges awarded every round to Shields. After the final bell the fighters exchanged words and then embraced, capping a contest described by Shields as "one of the toughest fights I've been in during my pro career. " She said she had to take her time, warning that Crews‑Dezurn "hits hard" and is "tough. "
Little Caesars Arena in Detroit hosted the rematch
The fight took place in front of a strong home crowd at Little Caesars Arena, the arena used by the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons. This match was a rematch of their professional debuts on November 19, 2016, when Shields also defeated Crews‑Dezurn by unanimous decision. Shields, 30, is a two‑time Olympic gold medallist from 2012 and 2016 and became the first undisputed women's heavyweight champion after moving up from middleweight and unifying the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts last year.
Franchon Crews-Dezurn's injuries and the pre-fight clash
Tensions between the camps had boiled over in the build‑up, including a heated face‑off and a clash between their teams at the pre‑fight weigh‑in. Crews‑Dezurn was evaluated by a doctor on Sunday morning for knee and ankle issues but was cleared to compete, allowing the scheduled bout to proceed. Both fighters opened aggressively, but Shields asserted control early with superior hand speed; she later said she nearly had Crews‑Dezurn out in round seven, but the challenger would not go.
Undercard incidents: Atif Oberlton, Joseph George and Danielle Perkins
The co‑main event ended abruptly when Joseph George collapsed in his corner after the first round against Atif Oberlton, who entered the night unbeaten at 14‑0 while George was 13‑2. Paramedics treated George and he was ultimately able to leave the ring under his own power. On the undercard, 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.
Shields' $8m contract, media projects and positioning in 2026
The Detroit bout was the first fight under a new $8m multi‑fight deal, a pact that was announced in November and tied to Wynn Records and Salita Promotions in earlier accounts. That agreement, described in coverage as the most lucrative in women's boxing history, is expected to map out Shields' next two years. Beyond the ring, Shields is the subject of a documentary titled "T‑Rex" and a feature film called "The Fire Inside, " underscoring a growing media footprint that arrived alongside the financial commitment.
How Shields' choices differ from peers and what makes it notable
What makes this notable is the way Shields has positioned herself: while many other high‑profile women fighters signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in recent years and helped make MVP a one‑stop shop for women’s boxing, Shields opted for a different commercial path. She has said she could have signed with MVP but prefers the independence of achieving results on her own terms, a stance that accompanies her self‑promotion as the "GWOAT" — the "Greatest Woman of All Time. "
The broader implication is clear: by winning a unanimous decision, starting a lucrative contract, and maintaining an 18‑0 record while holding the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts, Shields is consolidating both sporting and commercial leadership in the division. The event also recalled the long lineage of American heavyweights — names from the past were evoked in commentary on the night — highlighting how, in 2026, the single American heavyweight world titleholder happens to be a woman.
The sequence of events — a tense build‑up, a medical evaluation that allowed the bout to go ahead, an assertive performance in the ring, and the start of a major contract — produced a textbook cause‑and‑effect outcome: Shields’ continued dominance reinforced her status in the sport and advanced the commercial plan tied to her $8m deal.
