Claressa Shields dominates Franchon Crews-Dezurn — claressa shields remains undisputed heavyweight champion
claressa shields dominated Franchon Crews-Dezurn with a lopsided unanimous decision in Detroit, retaining the WBO, WBA, IBF and WBC heavyweight titles with identical 100-90 cards as she improved to 18-0. The fight, a 10-round rematch that drew a strong home crowd to Little Caesars Arena, followed a fraught build-up and ended with the fighters embracing after exchanging words.
Fight score and records
Shields earned identical 100-90 scores on all three judges’ cards to successfully defend her undisputed heavyweight championship. The result moved Shields to 18-0 in one account of the result; another account in the build-up described her as 17-0 (3 KOs). Franchon Crews-Dezurn fell to 10-3. The bout was contested over 10 rounds and keeps Shields unbeaten in professional outings noted as 18 fights in one summary.
Weigh-in tensions and medical check
Tensions between the fighters had been high before the bout, spilling into 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.
How the rounds played out
Both fighters came out aggressively in the opening round, but Shields quickly asserted control with superior hand speed. After the final bell the pair exchanged words before ultimately sharing an embrace.
Claressa Shields' post-fight quotes
Shields described the fight as a tough night. She said, "I had to take my time tonight. " She also said, "That's one of the toughest fights I've been in during my pro career. She hits hard these days. " In a longer account Shields said, "I felt like I had to take my time. Franchon hits hard and she's tough. She was trying to cause an upset and got me with some shots. She's a heavy-hitting diva and that's one of the best fights I've been in my professional career, especially at 10 rounds. It was fun. I had to watch my ass every round. I think today I showcased my skills, my offence, my defence and body shots. I almost had her out in round seven, but she just wouldn't go. "
Rematch history and amateur meetings
The bout was a rematch of their professional debuts on November 19, 2016, when Shields also won by unanimous decision. Shields had beaten Crews-Dezurn three times as an amateur and on their professional debuts in 2016.
Titles, career milestones and deals
Shields, described in context as a two-time Olympic gold medallist with golds in 2012 and 2016, became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in women’s boxing when she moved up from middleweight and unified the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts in the new weight class last year. The bout was noted as the first in a new multi-fight deal variously described as a £5. 9m ($8m) agreement and as an $8m (£6. 1m) deal. Separately, it was noted that back in November Shields announced an $8 million contract with Wynn Records and Salita Promotions to map out the next two years of her fighting career; that contract was described as the most lucrative in women’s boxing history in one account.
Co-main and undercard incidents
The co-main light-heavyweight matchup between Atif Oberlton (14-0) and Joseph George (13-2) ended abruptly after one round when George collapsed in his corner. Paramedics treated him and he was eventually 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.
Commentary elsewhere noted Shields at age 30 and described Crews-Dezurn as 38 years old in one account. A separate profile framed Shields as the single American heavyweight in possession of a world title, self-styled as the "Greatest Woman of All Time" or "GWOAT, " and listed prior world titles at super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. That profile also referenced a documentary titled "T-Rex" and a feature film called "The Fire Inside, " and observed that many of her peers had signed with Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions, with Most Valuable Promotions described as a one-stop shop for women’s boxing. In a quoted line about promotional choices Shields said, "I don't think there's anything wrong with what those girls have done, " and added, "I could have done the same thing [signed with MVP], but I just like knowing that when I accomplish something it's because I did it. I don't like feelin" — the remark is presented as it appeared.
The event drew a strong crowd to the home arena used by the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons. The sequence of pre-fight tensions, medical clearance, aggressive opening rounds, the identical 100-90 decision and the post-fight embrace together complete the documented account of the night.
