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Flint Native Claressa Shields Dominates Crews-Dezurn To Remain Undefeated Heavyweight
Russ Survance
Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:07:18 EST
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Claressa Shields successfully defended her undisputed heavyweight championship Sunday night, earning a commanding unanimous decision over longtime rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn at Little Caesars Arena.
Fighting in front of a hometown crowd, Shields remained unbeaten, improving to 18-0 with two knockouts. Judges scored the bout 100-90 across all three cards, underscoring her control throughout the 10-round contest. Crews-Dezurn, a reigning super-middleweight titleholder, dropped to 10-3 with the loss.
Despite the wide margin on the scorecards, Shields described the matchup as one of the more challenging bouts of her professional career, noting her opponent's power.
The fight marked a rematch nearly a decade after the two met in their professional debuts in 2016, when Shields also prevailed by decision. Tensions resurfaced ahead of Sunday's bout, including a heated confrontation during the weigh-in. Crews-Dezurn had also dealt with knee and ankle concerns earlier in the day but was cleared to compete.
Both fighters exchanged aggressive combinations in the opening round, though Shields quickly established an advantage with her speed and accuracy. After the final bell, the rivals shared an extended conversation in the ring before embracing.
The victory also served as the first appearance under Shields' recently signed $8 million multi-fight contract.
