Shields keeps title with win vs. rival Crews-Dezurn

DETROIT -- Undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields and longtime rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn promised an action-packed fight Sunday night -- and they delivered, with Shields defending her crown via unanimous decision at Little Caesars Arena.

All three judges scored the 10-round bout 100-90.

Shields, a native of Flint, Michigan, improved to 18-0 (3 KOs). Crews-Dezurn, who still holds a super middleweight title, fell to 10-3.

"I felt like I had to take my time. Franchon hits hard and she's tough and you got to be very tricky with her," Shields said in her post-fight interview. "She was trying to cause the upset today and got me with some shots, but Franchon is exactly who she thinks she is -- 'The Heavy Hitting Diva' and that's one of the best fights that I've been in at my professional career, especially at 10 rounds. It was fun. I had to watch my ass every round."

After battling for 10 rounds in front of more than 17,000 fans, Shields and Crews-Dezurn stood face-to-face in the middle of the ring to share a warm embrace.

It was a rematch of their 2016 pro debut, where Shields earned a four-round decision victory in Las Vegas on the undercard of Andre Ward's light heavyweight title bout against Sergey Kovalev.

Shields and Crews-Dezurn climbed the ranks together as longtime amateur rivals but put their friendship aside to put on a show in front of a star-studded audience that included boxing champion Terence Crawford, rapper Tee Grizzley, comedians Mike Epps and Michael Blackson and other celebrities.

Rapper Lil Boosie also joined Shields for her ring walk, where he performed his hit song "Set It Off."

"She inspires me. She came in at a time where I was dominant and shook the table up," Crews-Dezurn said. "When I'm seeing her, I'm like, 'OK, that's a point I could get to or that's somebody who can keep fire under me,' and it's never a jealousy thing. I'm proud of her."

Both fighters pressed the action from the opening round, but Shields, ESPN's No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound women's boxer, began to wear down her opponent by the fifth round.

Crews-Dezurn came out strong with a flurry of punches in the first two rounds, but Shields adjusted by focusing on the timing of her jab and delivering pinpoint jabs in the later rounds to pull away on the scorecards.

Shields felt she could've delivered more punches to the body and said she'll improve from this experience, but lauded Crews-Dezurn for bringing her A-game, which left a stitch on her face.

"I haven't seen a fight that exciting in women's boxing in a very long time, and I haven't been in one where a girl could rumble like that," Shields said. "I know the scorecards was 90 to 100, but I think she got me two rounds. I just don't know which two."

The victory marked Shields' second defense of her undisputed heavyweight crown, which she won in February 2025 in a unanimous decision over Danielle Perkins.

Moving forward, Shields said she wants to fight Shadasia Green, then have a catchweight bout with Mikaela Mayer at 162 or 163 pounds.

"And then after that -- what are we in 2026 right now? Well, in 2027, like I said, this is my niece this is not my child," Shields said while hugging her niece in the post-fight news conference. "But I wanna have my own kids. So, in 2027, I think I want to take some time off and have my own kids."