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Claressa Shields pounds out lopsided victory over rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn
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Claressa Shields pounds out lopsided victory over rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn

📖 Full Retelling

Claressa Shields won a lopsided unanimous decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn to successfully defend her undisputed heavyweight championship at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night

📚 Related People & Topics

Franchón Crews-Dezurn

American boxer (born 1987)

Franchón Crews-Dezurn (born June 13, 1987) is an American professional boxer. She is the current unified World Boxing Council (WBC) Super middleweight world champion and World Boxing Association (WBA) Super middleweight world champion. She was the undisputed world champion at super middleweight, los...

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Claressa Shields

Claressa Shields

American boxer (born 1995)

Claressa Maria Shields (born March 17, 1995) is an American professional boxer and former professional mixed martial artist. She has held 18 major world championships spanning five weight classes, including the undisputed female light middleweight title in March 2021; the undisputed female middlewei...

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

Claressa Shields' victory solidifies her status as the undisputed heavyweight champion and a dominant force in women's boxing. The fight, part of a major new financial deal, highlights the growing commercial appeal and competitive depth of the sport. The high-profile rematch also showcased a significant rivalry, drawing a large crowd and attention to the women's division.

Context & Background

  • This was a rematch of the fighters' professional debuts in 2016, which Shields also won.
  • Shields entered the fight as the undisputed heavyweight champion with a perfect 17-0 record.
  • Hard feelings from a weigh-in brawl the previous day added significant tension to the event.
  • The bout was the first fight in Shields' new multi-fight, $8 million deal.
  • The co-main event featured a medical scare when Joseph George collapsed in his corner.

What Happens Next

Shields will likely pursue the next fight in her lucrative new contract, potentially seeking another high-profile matchup to defend her titles. Franchon Crews-Dezurn will return to the super-middleweight division to defend her own title there. The boxing community will also monitor the condition of Joseph George after his collapse in the co-main event.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the result of the Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn fight?

Claressa Shields won by a lopsided unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 100-90.

Was this a title fight?

Yes, Claressa Shields successfully defended her undisputed heavyweight championship.

What happened in the co-main event?

The light heavyweight fight was stopped after one round when Joseph George collapsed in his corner, though he was able to leave the ring under his own power after treatment.

Original Source
Claressa Shields pounds out lopsided victory over rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn Claressa Shields won a lopsided unanimous decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn to successfully defend her undisputed heavyweight championship at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night By DAVE HOGG Associated Press February 22, 2026, 11:26 PM DETROIT -- Claressa Shields won a lopsided unanimous decision over Franchon Crews-Dezurn to successfully defend her undisputed heavyweight championship at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night. Shields, fighting at home, improved to 18-0 (2 KOs), winning 100-90 on all three cards. Crews-Dezurn, who holds a super-middleweight title, fell to 10-3. “I had to take my time tonight,” Shields said. “That's one of the toughest fights I've been in during my pro career. She hits hard these days.” The fight was a rematch of Shields’ four-round unanimous-decision victory Nov. 19, 2016 in the pro debuts for both fighters, and hard feelings were obvious when a brawl broke out at Saturday’s weigh-in. Crews-Dezurn saw a doctor Sunday morning to check knee and ankle injuries, but was able to fight. The emotion carried over to the first round, which saw both fighters throwing hard flurries. Shields, though, took control early with her superior hand speed. The fighters had a lengthy face-to-face conversation after the final bell, but embraced at the end. For Shields, it was the first bout of the $8 million, multi-fight deal she landed last month and drew a large crowd to Little Caesars Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons. Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 21, 5:31 PM Trump says he has signed order for new 15% tariff after Supreme Court ruling Feb 21, 4:34 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM The co-main event between light heavyweights Atif Olberlton (14-0) and Joseph George (13-2) was stopped after one round when George collapse...
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