Shields and Crews-Dezurn Set for Heavyweight Rematch, Reflect on Past Bout
– Detroit, MI – As Claressa Shields prepares to defend her undisputed heavyweight title against Franchon Crews-Dezurn on at Little Caesars Arena, the two boxers have demonstrated a surprising level of mutual respect leading up to the highly anticipated rematch.
Shields, currently ranked as ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound women’s boxer, offered praise for Crews-Dezurn during a press conference on , acknowledging the significance of their upcoming bout. “With this fight being at heavyweight, it brings more notoriety to her name, to my name, to the event,” Shields stated. “We will be etched in history together throughout our entire careers from the amateurs to our pro debuts to our heavyweight fight coming up.”
The two fighters first crossed paths professionally in 2016, with Shields securing a four-round decision victory. This upcoming contest marks the second defense of Shields’ undisputed heavyweight crown, which she initially won in with a unanimous decision over Danielle Perkins. It also represents the first event under Shields’ new multifight partnership with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, a deal reportedly worth $8 million – the largest contract to date for a female boxer.
Crews-Dezurn has also experienced success since their initial encounter, winning nine consecutive fights and ultimately becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion. The progression of both fighters’ careers has brought them back to this pivotal moment, a heavyweight showdown with historical implications.
The respect between the two athletes extends beyond pre-fight rhetoric. Following her victory over Perkins, Shields reached out to her opponent with a gesture of sportsmanship. “Claressa reached out and she said, ‘You know, that was a good fight,’” Perkins recounted in an interview with BoxingScene. “You really can’t hear anyone when you lose. So I was like, ‘Oh, thank you.’ But she meant it. It was genuine, and that’s one thing I can say about Claressa, that she’s a genuine person.”
Shields’ path to the heavyweight title wasn’t without its challenges. During her fight against Perkins, she competed while battling a torn labrum in her left shoulder, an injury sustained just nine days prior to the bout. Despite the injury, Shields managed to secure a unanimous decision victory, becoming the first boxer, male or female, in the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in three different weight classes: junior middle, middle, and heavyweight. She currently holds the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles.
The fight against Perkins showcased Shields’ adaptability, as she was forced to rely more on her straight right and overhand right punches due to the limitations imposed by her shoulder injury. She hurt Perkins in the third round and again in the seventh, nearly securing an early knockout. In the final round, Shields dropped Perkins with a sharp right hand, though the bell rang before she could attempt a finish.
The upcoming fight against Crews-Dezurn promises to be a compelling clash of styles and a continuation of a rivalry that began years ago. Both fighters have evolved since their first meeting, and the stakes are higher than ever as they compete for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
