Claressa Shields neutralized a fierce early surge from long-time rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn to retain undisputed heavyweight titles on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The DAZN-televised rematch followed a heated weigh-in brawl the previous day and featured sustained, close-quarters action in the opening rounds before Shields systematically took control. Judges awarded Shields a unanimous decision, 100-90 across the board, improving her professional record to 18-0 with three knockouts. After the win she named several potential opponents, including a possible move to 168 pounds and a showdown with Mikaela Mayer at a catchweight.
Key takeaways
- Claressa Shields defeated Franchon Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision, scores 100-90, 100-90, 100-90 on Feb. 22, 2026 in Detroit.
- Shields is now 18-0 with three career KOs and remains undisputed at heavyweight; she is ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound by Uncrowned.
- The rematch followed a volatile weigh-in fight on Feb. 21, adding tension that carried into the ring’s early rounds.
- Shields absorbed an aggressive early attack, adjusted her tempo, and regained command by mid-fight as Crews-Dezurn’s output dwindled.
- Post-fight Shields floated three prospective matchups: Crews-Dezurn 3 at 168 lbs, Shadasia Green at 168, or Mikaela Mayer at a catchweight.
- Main-card drama included Danielle Perkins stopping Che Kenneally by TKO in Round 6, Atif Oberlton winning after Joseph George collapsed off his stool, and Pryce Taylor stopping James Evans in Round 5.
- Samantha Worthington, a Shields protege, suffered an upset loss by stoppage to Edith Soledad Matthyse in an eight-round finish on the undercard.
Background
The rivalry between Shields and Crews-Dezurn traces back to both fighters’ early pro careers and an enduring competitive history; their shared past made Saturday’s weigh-in brawl and Sunday’s rematch a storyline-heavy event. Shields entered the night with a reputation for hand speed and technical precision, while Crews-Dezurn brought size, power and a willingness to engage in slugfests. Promoted by Salita Promotions and broadcast on DAZN, the card landed at Little Caesars Arena before a reported crowd of roughly 18,000 spectators, underscoring Shields’ growing commercial pull.
Beyond the headline, the card mixed title defenses and high-stakes matchups across weight classes. Danielle Perkins entered with a WBA light heavyweight opportunity, Atif Oberlton was scheduled in a pivotal light heavyweight bout, and several prospects on Shields’ roster—most notably Samantha Worthington—appeared on the same show. The promotional context and stacked card magnified the consequences of each result for rankings and matchmaking in women’s boxing.
Main event
The fight opened with Crews-Dezurn pressing and landing the more telling blows in Rounds 1–2, forcing Shields to work off her back foot early. That aggressive opening, amplified by the bad blood from the prior day’s altercation, made the initial rounds among the most frenetic of the night. By Round 3–4 Shields began to find range with a more forceful jab and quicker counters, turning exchanges into a pattern of three- and four-shot combinations that started to tell on Crews-Dezurn.
From the middle rounds onward Crews-Dezurn’s mobility decreased and her punches lost steam, according to commentary and later analysis; she occupied the center of the ring more often and did not circle away as frequently. Shields exploited that reduced movement with sustained body work and sharper combinations, landing a number of clean overhand rights and inside uppercuts. In the championship rounds Shields continued to press and box smartly rather than expendful power shots, maintaining distance control and picking clear targets.
At the final bell all three judges saw the contest for Shields, awarding a shutout 100-90 decision. The champion and challenger exchanged a brief, respectful embrace after the announcement, a conciliatory moment after the week’s heightened tensions. Shields used the post-fight interviews to outline immediate matchmaking preferences, explicitly naming rematch possibilities and cross-weight options that would alter the current divisional map.
Analysis & implications
Technically, the bout reinforced Shields’ strengths: hand speed, timing and ring IQ. When confronted with an early barrage she did not seek a reckless answer but instead reset her rhythm and picked off shots as Crews-Dezurn fatigued. That adaptability suggests Shields is improving the situational, tactical elements of her game as she pursues both knockout power and defensive polish with coach John David Jackson.
For Crews-Dezurn the fight underlines conditioning and pacing as critical concerns. Her early volume was effective but unsustainable; by mid-fight the output fell and the quality of her punches declined. At 38 years old—eight years older than Shields—Crews-Dezurn must weigh the trade-offs of fighting at heavyweight versus remaining active at 168 pounds, where she still holds belts and where speed and movement may be more effective for her style.
Matchmaking repercussions are immediate. Shields’ openness to drop to 168 could reshape championship alignments if she pursues a cross-division bout, potentially setting up a Campeon-style trilogy with Crews-Dezurn or a marquee fight versus Mikaela Mayer. Commercially, Shields remains a major draw—tonight’s near-capacity crowd and the high-profile weigh-in incident increased visibility for women’s title fights and could accelerate larger purses and broadcast opportunities.
Comparison & data
| Fight | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn | Shields def. Crews-Dezurn | Unanimous Decision (100-90 x3) |
| Danielle Perkins vs Che Kenneally | Perkins def. Kenneally | 6th Rd TKO (WBA LHW) |
| Atif Oberlton vs Joseph George | Oberlton def. George | 1st Rd TKO/retirement (collapse) |
| Pryce Taylor vs James Evans | Taylor def. Evans | 5th Rd TKO |
The table above summarizes the principal outcomes. Contextually, Shields’ shutout decision is consistent with a fight where one boxer gradually asserts technical dominance after weathering an early storm; the judges’ identical 100-90 cards indicate a bout that tilted decisively after the mid rounds. The night also included at least two stoppages with potential long-term effects—Perkins’ highlight-reel stoppage and George’s collapse, which prompted immediate medical concern.
Reactions & quotes
Corner and broadcast voices framed the fight as both tactical and personal, with former rival commentary amplifying next-match possibilities.
I felt like I had to take my time. Franchon hits hard, she’s tough, and you have to be tricky with her,
Claressa Shields, post-fight
Hopefully George is okay. The only thing I can think of is a bad weight cut or dehydration, which increases risk,
Mikaela Mayer, DAZN commentator
I’m glad he’s okay. If he wants to run it back, we can do it. I have love for you, bro,
Atif Oberlton, on Joseph George’s collapse
Unconfirmed
- Whether Joseph George’s collapse was definitively caused by a weight cut or dehydration remains unverified pending official medical reports.
- Any concrete scheduling, purses or contracts for Shields vs. Mayer, Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn III, or a Shields bout at 168 are speculative until promoters and sanctioning bodies confirm.
- Full long-term medical status for fighters involved in mid-card stoppages has not been publicly released at the time of reporting.
Bottom line
Claressa Shields’ unanimous decision win on Feb. 22, 2026, consolidated her status atop the division by demonstrating adaptability under pressure and tactical control as the fight progressed. The result did not provide a new knockout highlight for her resume, but it reinforced a skill set—speed, timing, conditioning—that makes her a difficult target for heavy hitters over 10–12 rounds.
Looking ahead, Shields’ openness to cross-division matchups and a possible trilogy with Crews-Dezurn sets up meaningful matchmaking choices that will influence belts, rankings and commercial interest in women’s boxing. Key uncertainties—medical clearances for affected fighters and formal offers for Shields’ named opponents—will determine how quickly those next steps materialize.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports — news coverage and round-by-round updates (media)
- DAZN — event broadcaster and live commentary (broadcaster)