Claressa Shields will defend her undisputed heavyweight crown in a high‑stakes rematch against Franchon Crews‑Dezurn on February 22 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The bout, scheduled to stream live on DAZN, marks a return to Shields’ home city and revisits one of the key rivalries from the start of her professional career.

Claressa Shields to defend undisputed heavyweight crown against Franchon Crews‑Dezurn in Detroit

Shields enters the fight as the unbeaten, undisputed heavyweight champion with a professional record of 17 wins and no defeats, including 3 victories by knockout. The 30‑year‑old is widely regarded as one of the best pound‑for‑pound fighters in women’s boxing and has repeatedly embraced the “GWOAT” moniker, the self‑proclaimed “Greatest Woman of All Time.” This defense will be her second as undisputed champion in the division, adding further weight to a matchup that already carries a strong narrative.

A rivalry rekindled nearly a decade later

The February clash will be a rematch of Shields’ professional debut back in 2016, when she first faced Crews‑Dezurn with both women making their first appearance in the paid ranks. On that occasion, Shields claimed victory over four rounds, launching a run that would see her collect multiple belts across divisions and amass a total of nineteen world titles. Nearly a decade later, she now meets the same opponent with all the major heavyweight belts at stake and a far more experienced, established version of Crews‑Dezurn in the opposite corner.

From Shields’ perspective, this contest is about closing a chapter she openly describes as “unfinished business.” She has acknowledged that Crews‑Dezurn stepped in when finding an opponent after her second Olympic gold medal was difficult, and now sees this as the continuation of a story that began in their shared debut. In her own words, the four‑round fight they contested then will “pick up from round five” when they touch gloves again in Detroit.

Crews‑Dezurn’s road back to the top

Franchon Crews‑Dezurn brings far more than nostalgia to this rematch. After losing to Shields in 2016, she rebuilt impressively, going unbeaten over her next nine fights and becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion. Her rise at 168 pounds confirmed her as one of the standout names in women’s boxing, combining toughness, pressure and personality to carve out her own legacy. That run was halted in 2023 when she dropped a majority decision to Savannah Marshall, surrendering her undisputed status in a closely contested bout.

Refusing to fade from the spotlight, Crews‑Dezurn responded by moving quickly back into title‑winning form. She defeated Shadasia Green in 2023 to claim the WBA interim and WBC super middleweight titles, then successfully defended those belts against Citlalli Ortiz in 2025. Now 38 years old, she takes an even bolder step by moving up in weight to challenge Shields for all the heavyweight belts, aiming to become the first fighter to stain the champion’s perfect professional record.

Words of intent from both champions

Both fighters have framed the bout not only as a championship contest, but as a clash of legacies. Shields emphasizes the journey she has taken since their first meeting: from Olympic success to multi‑division supremacy, major awards and global recognition. She underlines that despite all those achievements, there is still a score to settle with an old rival who has “been talking like she can beat me in a world championship fight,” turning this defense into a personally charged mission as well as a professional obligation.

Crews‑Dezurn, for her part, presents the match as the culmination of years of work and waiting. She speaks of “daring to be even greater” by moving up in weight and “strutting into hell” to create her own version of heaven, signaling her willingness to embrace risk in pursuit of history. Describing herself as a “worldwide woman that’s good in any hood,” she promises to deliver a great fight not only for Detroit fans but for viewers around the world, leaning into her reputation as an outspoken and fearless competitor who rarely backs down from a challenge.

Stakes for women’s boxing and the heavyweight division

Beyond personal narratives, the fight carries significant implications for the women’s heavyweight landscape and for women’s boxing as a whole. An undisputed title defense by a high‑profile, pound‑for‑pound star in a major arena reinforces the momentum the sport has built over the past decade. For promoters and broadcasters, this matchup offers a compelling blend of backstory, star power and high‑level skill, elements that can translate into strong audience interest and sustained coverage across news platforms and boxing content creators’ predictions.

The event also highlights the growing willingness of established champions to move between divisions and seek high‑risk, high‑reward opportunities. Crews‑Dezurn’s decision to jump from super middleweight to heavyweight for undisputed honors echoes a broader trend of fighters chasing legacy‑defining bouts rather than staying in safer, familiar territory. For Shields, successfully turning back a fellow former undisputed champion from a lower weight only strengthens her case in the all‑time debates and provides further material for any boxing Youtube Channel or analysis outlet dissecting her claim to “GWOAT” status.

Styles, questions and what could decide the fight

On a tactical level, the rematch raises intriguing questions that will fuel analysis and predictions in the build‑up. Shields has evolved significantly since 2016, pairing her aggressive combinations and fast hands with improved ring generalship and defensive awareness. Her experience in multiple weight classes and her comfort performing under bright lights in front of large crowds in the United States and abroad give her a strong foundation heading into another homecoming fight in Detroit.

Crews‑Dezurn brings a rugged, pressure‑oriented style that could test Shields physically, especially at a higher weight where clinches, inside exchanges and attritional work to the body may play a bigger role. The key unknown is how Crews‑Dezurn’s power and durability translate as she moves up to heavyweight, and whether Shields’ speed and technique at the higher limit still allow her to dominate exchanges as she so often has at lower divisions. The answers to those questions will likely shape the narrative of the fight from the opening bell.

Legacy on the line in Detroit

For Shields, a dominant win in front of her home fans would reinforce her position at the summit of women’s boxing and add another layer of validation to her legacy as an undisputed, multi‑division champion. It would also close the loop on a rivalry that began with both women taking a leap into the unknown in their shared debut, now revisited with belts, status and history on the line. Maintaining an unblemished record in such circumstances keeps her long‑term ambitions intact, whether they involve further title defenses, cross‑discipline ventures or high‑profile superfights down the line.

For Crews‑Dezurn, upsetting the undefeated champion would be career‑defining. A victory would not only make her undisputed heavyweight champion but also cement her as one of the most accomplished multi‑division fighters of her era. Even for a boxer who already holds world titles and has unified at super middleweight, becoming the first to defeat Shields would represent a unique achievement, reshaping how both women are remembered and how future generations will discuss this chapter of women’s boxing history.