Claressa Shields successfully defended her championships with a victory over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Shields won by unanimous decision in a fight that attracted 18,000 to Little Caesar’s Arena.
Crews-Dezurn put together a strong start in the opening round of the fight, but it was Shields who managed to pull away with the fight in the rounds that followed. Both fighters were aggressive early on, but Shields found her stride later in the fight by landing multiple combinations against an exhausted Crews-Dezurn. Crews-Dezurn tried to fight back in the later rounds but there wasn’t much more she could do to get back into the fight.
It’s Shields’ second victory over Crews-Dezurn. The first came back in the champions’ debut in 2016.
Shields is now 18-0 in her professional career. Crews-Dezurn falls to 10-3.
USA TODAY Sports had you covered with updates, analysis and highlights from the Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn card here:
Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn highlights
Claressa Shields def. Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Round-by-round analysis
Round 10: Both fighters go the distance and this will come down to the judges’ scores. It should be Shields who wins the fight with ease.
Round 9: Crews-Dezurn and Shields are slowing down a bit but it’s still Shields who has the advantage.
Round 8: Shields continues to show her dominance. The round was closer than some of the more recent rounds. The challenger showed some life, landing a pair of power punches in the round against Shields.
Round 7: Shields picks up where she left off from the previous round with more combinations. Crews-Dezurn might be running out of gas here.
Round 6: Shields continues to be aggressive and lands several combinations throughout the round. Shields is in full control.
Round 5: Crews-Dezurn was trying to work the body of Shields, but Shields caught her with a shot to the jaw.
Round 4: Shields is trying to pull away with the lead here in the fourth. Shields is clearly delivering punishment to the face of Crews-Dezurn.
Round 3: Both fighters are being aggressive and not pulling punches early in the fight. Their conditioning will be tested. This fight is fairly even so far.
Round 2: Shields has been able to display her speed early in the field. Crews-Dezurn continues to work Shields back against the corner or the ropes. Crews-Dezurn finished out the round with a jab and overhand shot.
Round 1: Crews-Dezurn took the first round of the fight after spending time backing Shields into the corner. Crews-Dezurn managed to delievered mutlipe shots.
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Time, PPV, streaming for fight
Claressa Shields will face Franchon Crews-Dezurn on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 22
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn main event ringwalks: 11 p.m. ET (estimate)
- Stream: DAZN
Watch Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn fight with DAZN
Atif Oberlton def. Joseph George
Joseph George and Atif Oberlton were slotted as the co-main event on the Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn card.
Oberlton won the opening round of the fight, but things would take on a different tone before the second round.
George collapsed off his stool between the first and second rounds and was down on the mat. He was in his corner drinking water before falling out of his stool.
George was quickly attended to by doctors at the ringside and the fight was waved off. Oberlton looked very surprised and confused about what happened.
It appeared that George and Oberlton may have accidentally bumped heads late in the first round.
George was still in need of assistance as he made his way out of the ring. He was sat down on a stretcher to be wheeled out. Oberlton was declared the winner by TKO.
‘I know I was being defensively responsible, if he fell in and a head butt happened, I just know I avoided the shot,’ Oberlton told DAZN’s Chris Mannix after the fight. ‘I’m glad he got on his feet and he’s OK.’
Che Kenneally def. Danielle Perkins
Kenneally managed to take the first round using a flurry of punches and counter-punches. Perkins bounced back in the second round and has taken control of the fight.
Perkins delivers a strong right hook in the final seconds of the sixth round to knock down the champion. Kenneally tried to make it back up, but the referee stopped the fight. Perkins wins the WBA women’s light heavyweight title.
Pryce Taylor def. James Evans
Taylor was in control of the fight early through the first two rounds. The first round featured a slow pace and not much activity. While the fighters did exchange body shots, both are still getting a feel for one another early.
Evans would show some fight in the third round, but Taylor would knock him down in the fourth round. The referee also ended up on the floor in the round. Taylor would pop Evans again in the fifth round. Evans took several shots from Taylor before taking a knee. The referee calls an end to the heavyweight fight.
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Full fight card
Fight card via DAZN.
- Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn; For Shields’ IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO women’s heavyweight titles
- Atif Oberlton vs. Joseph George; Light heavyweight
- Che Kenneally vs. Danielle Perkins; For Kenneally’s WBA women’s light heavyweight title
- Pryce Taylor vs. James Evans; Heavyweight
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn odds
All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM
- Claressa Shields (-3000) vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (+1000)
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn full fight card odds
All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM
- Claressa Shields (-3000) vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (+1000); For Shields’ women’s heavyweight titles
- Atif Oberlton (-1400) vs. Joseph George (+600); Light heavyweight
- Che Kenneally (-225) vs. Danielle Perkins (+160); For Kenneally’s WBA women’s light heavyweight title
- Pryce Taylor (-1600) vs. James Evans (+700); Heavyweight
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn predictions
Josh Peter, USA TODAY: ‘A decade ago, in her professional debut, Claressa Shields defeated Franchon Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision. Since then, Shields has won 16 fights in a row, world titles in four weight classes and the right to… fight Crews-Dezurn again? The pairing is a headscratcher. While Shields, 30, looks to be in her prime, Crews-Dezurn, 38, looks to be headed for retirement. Crews-Dezurn owns the WBA and WBC women’s super middleweight titles. But she looked vulnerable in her last fight — a disputed majority-decision victory over Citlalli Ortiz, who had only five previous pro fights. Unless Crews-Dezurn knows something we don’t, the only thing in question is whether the fight will end by decision or stoppage. Prediction: Shields by KO, 10th round.’
Claressa Shields’s career record
Claressa Shields comes into Sunday’s fight with a perfect 17-0-0 record, having recently beaten Lani Daniels in a unanimous decision on July 26, 2025.
Franchon Crews-Dezurn’s career record
Franchon Crews-Dezurn comes into his fight with Shields holding a 10-2-0 record. Her most recent win took place back in June, 2025 in a majority decision over Citlalli Ortiz. She previously faced Shields in her debut bout back in 2016, a unanimous decision loss.
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn main card, ring walk start times
- Main card start time: 8 p.m. ET
- Main event ring walks: 11 p.m. ET (approximate)
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn live stream, price
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn will stream exclusively on DAZN. The boxing match can be viewed on DAZN subscription ($19.99 a month, monthly installments or $29.99 monthly flex plan).
