On a chilly Sunday night in Detroit, the spotlight shines brighter than ever on women’s boxing as Claressa Shields returns to Little Caesars Arena for a rematch nearly a decade in the making. The stakes? Nothing less than the undisputed IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO women’s heavyweight titles. The opponent? Franchon Crews-Dezurn, a familiar rival with unfinished business and a point to prove.
Set against the roaring backdrop of an expected 18,000 fans, this event is already being hailed by organizers as the greatest night in women’s boxing history. More than 15,000 tickets have been snapped up in advance, and with six of the 11 bouts featuring women fighters, it’s a watershed moment for the sport. The entire card streams live worldwide on DAZN, with doors opening at 4 p.m. and the main event ring walks scheduled for around 11 p.m. Eastern—though, as always in boxing, exact timing depends on the undercard action.
For Shields, the undefeated 30-year-old from Flint, Michigan, Sunday’s fight is more than just another title defense. It’s a homecoming, a celebration of her relentless climb from Olympic prodigy to boxing’s global stage. Shields first captured Olympic gold in 2012 at just 17, then made history again in 2016 by becoming the first American boxer to win back-to-back golds. Her professional debut came later that year, and fittingly, it was against Crews-Dezurn—a bout Shields won by unanimous decision.
But this rivalry didn’t start in the pros. Their story stretches back to the 2012 Olympic trials, when a teenage Shields upset the established Crews-Dezurn, setting the tone for years of competitive fire between the two. Now 38, Crews-Dezurn enters the ring with a 10-2 record and the determination of a former undisputed champion. She’s made it clear she feels overlooked in the pre-fight buildup. “I ain’t no B-side, baby, I never have been and never will be,” Crews-Dezurn declared in the lead-up. “I’m being completely overlooked. They are even starting to talk about Shields’ next fights already. It seems crazy to me, but I’m cool. I can’t beat the media, I can’t beat the machine, but I can beat her.”
Shields, meanwhile, is riding a wave of momentum both inside and outside the ring. Last December, she inked an unprecedented $8 million multi-fight contract, including a $3 million signing bonus—the largest in women’s boxing history. The deal, facilitated in part by her boyfriend Papoose, an executive at Wynn Records, is a testament to Shields’ growing commercial appeal. Her social media presence has exploded, with Instagram followers surging to 1.6 million following her public relationship with Papoose. According to Google Trends, search interest in Shields soared 300 percent after the relationship went public, making her one of the most talked-about athletes in the country.
Yet, with fame has come scrutiny. Shields has faced criticism and internet trolling, especially regarding her personal life. But unlike many celebrities, she’s not one to shy away from confrontation. Her willingness to clap back at critics has only fueled her viral status, keeping her firmly in the public eye.
Inside the ropes, Shields’ legacy is already cemented. She’s the first boxer—male or female—to become undisputed in two weight classes in the four-belt era. Her style is defined by technical pressure, elite ring IQ, and a knack for making tactical adjustments mid-fight. She’s not a one-punch knockout artist, but her combination accuracy and composure in championship rounds set her apart. At 5’8” with a 68-inch reach, she’ll need to use her jab and counter-punching to control the distance against Crews-Dezurn, whose physicality and high punch volume make her a dangerous foe.
Crews-Dezurn, for her part, is known for her aggressive, high-output style and grit in tough fights. She boasts a 72-inch reach and plans to close the distance early, making the contest as physical as possible. Her key to victory lies in pushing the pace and testing Shields’ conditioning. However, defensive lapses and vulnerability at range could be her undoing if Shields is able to dictate the tempo.
The undercard itself is a testament to the depth and growth of women’s boxing. Che Kenneally will defend her WBA light heavyweight title against Danielle Perkins, who lost a hard-fought 10-rounder to Shields just last year. Samantha Worthington puts her WBA interim super lightweight belt on the line, and Ann Arbor’s Jasmine Hampton, a 14-time national amateur champion, continues her pro journey. Shields, ever the mentor, has pushed for these opportunities, insisting on all-women’s cards since the start of her professional career. "When Claressa first turned pro, she made sure we staged an all-women's card. Ten years later, she is still pushing for visibility and opportunity," said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions.
Shields’ influence goes beyond the ring. On Sunday, she’ll sport blue hair as a heartfelt tribute to her Flint hometown, which continues to battle the effects of the water crisis. "These are two gladiators putting it all on the line," said Papoose at the pre-fight press conference. "This is going to be an amazing night not just for women's boxing, but for boxing as a whole."
Both fighters weighed in officially at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, looking ready for what promises to be a high-intensity showdown. The tale of the tape is nearly even: both stand at 5’8”, but Crews-Dezurn’s longer reach could be a factor if she can impose her physicality. Shields, with her unblemished 17-0 record, enters as the favorite, but Crews-Dezurn’s championship pedigree and hunger for redemption make her a live underdog.
As the hours tick down to the main event, anticipation is at a fever pitch. The winner will not only claim undisputed gold but also a major place in boxing history. For Shields, it’s another chance to cement her status as the GWOAT—the Greatest Woman of All Time. For Crews-Dezurn, it’s about respect, legacy, and proving the doubters wrong. And for women’s boxing, it’s a night that could redefine what’s possible.
With the action set to stream live on DAZN and a packed house in Detroit, fans around the world are tuning in for what could be a legacy-defining clash. Whether you’re rooting for Shields, Crews-Dezurn, or simply the sport itself, one thing’s for sure: this is a fight night no boxing fan will want to miss.