Claressa Shields Vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn Breakdown

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Feb 21, 2026 1:36 AM ET

Claressa Shields faces Franchon Crews-Dezurn on February 22, as we breakdown the fight.

Shields puts her undisputed heavyweight title on the line in a fight that is a rematch of their 2016 clash. Shields won that fight via a unanimous decision. Since then, the pair have gone on to make history. Shields is a three-weight undisputed champion (junior middleweight, middleweight, and heavyweight). Meanwhile, Crews-Dezurn was the ex-undisputed super middleweight champ, who currently holds the WBA and WBC titles. Shields beat Lani Daniels in a defense of her title last July, while Crews-Dezurn overcame Citlalli Ortiz last June.

Pre-Fight

“I want her to know she’s a very special fighter. I’m happy to fight against her. I’m not taking her lightly. She will always be an idol to me. Somebody whom I look up to. Who has been there for me at times when nobody else was, but this fight this weekend, we’re putting all that to the side, and we’ve got to rumble. If you can’t get along, you’ve got to get it on,” Shields

“This is a long time in the making. I’ve always told Claressa our journeys were always going to be intertwined as it is and it’s beautiful cause when we first met, women’s boxing wasn’t even in the Olympics, so we had the opportunity to step foot in that manner and to see both of our faces on beautiful artwork around the arena, on the internet, it means the world to me,” Crews-Dezurn said

The Approach

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Shields’ approach centers on her superior hand speed and counter-punching. Expect Shields to establish the jab early to disrupt Crews-Dezurn’s rhythm. In her previous fight against Lani Daniels, Shields utilized lateral movement to create angles, ensuring she was never a stationary target for a heavier hitter. If Crews-Dezurn overcommits to her right hand, Shields will likely utilize her frame to dip inside the shot and fire combinations to the body and head.

For Crews-Dezurn, the path to victory lies in making the fight uncomfortable and physical. Moving up from super middleweight, Crews-Dezurn’s advantage is her 72-inch reach, which gives her a 4-inch edge over Shields. She cannot afford to let Shields dictate the pace from the outside; instead, she must use her length to keep Shields at the end of her punches or use her strength to “bully” Shields against the ropes.