On a night that buzzed with anticipation and delivered on every promise, Claressa Shields once again etched her name into boxing history, dominating Franchon Crews-Dezurn in front of a raucous Detroit crowd at Little Caesars Arena on February 22, 2026. The event, which drew more than 17,000 fans—the largest boxing crowd in the arena’s history—saw Shields retain her undisputed heavyweight championship with a flawless unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 100-90 in Shields’ favor, a testament to her supremacy in the ring and her unblemished professional record, now standing at a remarkable 18-0.
The atmosphere was electric from the outset. Detroit’s own Shields, known as the GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time), made her entrance in money green and gold trunks with blue hair—a heartfelt tribute to her hometown of Flint and a nod to its ongoing water crisis. The crowd’s energy was palpable, with dignitaries such as Detroit’s first female mayor, Mary Sheffield, and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist ringside, and celebrities like boxing champion Terence Crawford, rapper Tee Grizzley, and comedians Mike Epps and Michael Blackson in attendance. Rapper Lil Boosie even joined Shields for her ring walk, performing his hit song “Set It Off.”
The stakes were high, and so was the tension. This was not just a fight; it was a rematch nearly a decade in the making. Shields and Crews-Dezurn first met in their professional debuts in 2016, where Shields emerged victorious by unanimous decision. Since then, both women have carved out impressive careers, but Shields has remained the standard-bearer for women’s boxing, capturing world titles in four weight classes and becoming a beacon for the sport’s resurgence in Detroit.
The action began with Crews-Dezurn, 38, coming out swinging, determined to make her mark and perhaps turn the tables on Shields. Early rounds saw Crews-Dezurn pressing forward, landing jabs and pushing Shields to the ropes. According to USA TODAY Sports, “Crews-Dezurn took the first round of the fight after spending time backing Shields into the corner. Crews-Dezurn managed to deliver multiple shots.” But Shields’ composure and tactical brilliance soon shone through. By the third round, she had seized control, using her superior hand speed and stamina to wear down her opponent.
“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 reflected in her postfight interview, as reported by ESPN. “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.”
The middle rounds showcased Shields’ relentless work rate. As Crews-Dezurn began to tire, Shields capitalized, landing combinations and keeping her opponent on the defensive. The sixth round brought the crowd to its feet, with Shields delivering a series of hard hits that hinted at a possible knockout. Yet, Crews-Dezurn’s resilience kept her standing. Shields later joked, “I know the scorecards was 90 to 100, but I think she got me two rounds. I just don’t know which two.”
Despite the heated build-up—including a brawl at the weigh-in and tense exchanges on social media—the respect between the two fighters was clear by the final bell. They embraced in the center of the ring, sharing a lengthy conversation and acknowledging their shared history. “She inspires me. She came in at a time when I was dominant and shook the table up,” Crews-Dezurn said of Shields after the fight. “When I see her... it’s never a jealousy thing. I’m proud of her. I want to make that very clear. I want to see her do good at all times.”
Crews-Dezurn, who still holds a super middleweight title, fell to 10-3 with the loss. She had entered the fight after seeing a doctor for knee and ankle injuries suffered during the weigh-in scuffle but showed grit and determination throughout the bout. Her strong start tested Shields’ conditioning, but the champion’s class ultimately prevailed.
This victory marked the first bout of Shields’ landmark $8 million multi-fight deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, where rapper Papoose, her boyfriend, is an executive. Shields’ performance was a clear statement that she remains the face of women’s boxing and a driving force behind Detroit’s boxing renaissance. Promoter Dmitriy Salita didn’t mince words: “I know we’ve been saying for a long time that big-time boxing is coming back to Detroit. It’s back, man. Big-time boxing is back in Detroit.”
The undercard featured its own drama, with American light heavyweight Danielle Perkins upsetting Australian Che Kenneally via sixth-round knockout to claim the WBA women’s light heavyweight title. The co-main event between Atif Oberlton and Joseph George was halted after one round when George collapsed in his corner, but he was able to leave the ring under his own power.
Looking ahead, Shields has made it clear she’s not done making history. With Mikaela Mayer in the DAZN booth, speculation swirled about a potential Shields vs. Mayer matchup. Shields, however, outlined three possible next opponents: a third bout with Crews-Dezurn, a fight against Shadasia Green at 168 pounds, and the much-anticipated clash with Mayer. “I’d love to share the ring with Shadasia [Green]. She’s at 168 [pounds], I’d go down and fight against her. Franchon still has belts at 168. So you might see Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn 3!” Shields declared. On Mayer, she was equally enthusiastic: “Absolutely.”
But Shields also hinted at life beyond the ring, expressing her desire to take time off in 2027 to start a family. “What are we in 2026 right now? Well, in 2027, like I said, this is my niece; this is not my child. But I want to have my own kids. So, in 2027, I think I want to take some time off and have my own kids.”
For now, though, Shields remains the undisputed queen of women’s boxing, her legacy growing with each victory. As Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” played through the arena, Shields celebrated another perfect night—one that surely won’t be forgotten by Detroit, or the boxing world, anytime soon.