Claressa Shields’ Next Fight Announced

Undefeated Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Claressa Shields will rematch Franchon Crews-Dezurn on February 22.

The fight takes place in Shields’ home state of Michigan, Detroit, following their 2016 encounter. In that four-round contest, Shields won a unanimous decision: 40-36 (x3). Shields has since made history by becoming the only boxer, male or female, in the four-belt era to achieve undisputed status in three different weight divisions: Junior middleweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. Crews-Dezurn, meanwhile, conquered the super middleweight division, where she became the first undisputed champion in that weight class in 2022.

The bout is scheduled for Shields’ Undisputed Heavyweight Championship, which she successfully defended in July 2025 against Lani Daniels via a decision. Shields initially captured the belt earlier that year with a decision win over Danielle Perkins. Crews-Dezurn, currently the WBC and WBA Super Middleweight Champion, will be moving up two divisions to challenge Shields.

Mindset

“In 2016 I had just come off winning two Olympic gold medals, fresh out of the amateurs, and finding an opponent was tough, Franchon stepped in. I’ve grown a lot since that first victory, going on to win 19 world titles, the ESPY award, and countless other achievements, but me and Franchon have unfinished business that needs to be settled.

“She’s been poppin’ it like she can whoop me in a world championship fight. We went four rounds in our pro debut, and this fight will pick up from round five. I plan on putting Franchon on her back and leaving with the KO. My last few fights, I was dealing with injuries, but now I’m 100 percent. Franchon is elite, but I am super elite, and I plan on proving that come fight night,” Shields stated

“I’ve been waiting and working a long time for this moment, and we finally meet again. This time as established champions with great legacies. I’m daring to be even greater by going up in weight, strutting into hell so I can create my heaven. I’m a worldwide woman that’s good in any hood and can’t wait to give Detroit, along with the world, a great fight,” Crews-Dezurn said