The Rematch: Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn

The Rematch: Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn

It is a rematch almost ten years in the making. A 2016 fight that saw the two-time Olympic champion Claressa Shields make her professional debut over four rounds against former foe Franchon Crews-Dezurn at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Both were making their maiden ring walks in the paid ranks. Old amateur rivals, Shields had won every time they had fought. The former dual Olympic champion emerged victorious once again. Shields won 40-36 on the cards. Normal service resumed. Shields earned a reported $50,000, Crews-Dezurn an apparent $10,000. On February 22nd in Detroit, they will do it one more time. They will earn significantly more this time. A rematch with a lot on the line. Undisputed status and the battle for personal supremacy.

The undisputed world heavyweight titles will be on the line when Shields fights Crews-Dezurn for the second time as a professional. Shields is now unbeaten in seventeen fights and has gone undisputed in three different weight divisions. More than arguably, Shields is the best female fighter on the planet. The odds indicate she will once again turn back the challenge of her old amateur rival. At 1/25, Shields is odds-on to beat Crews-Dezurn again. If you fancy the upset, you can get around 10-1 on a Crews-Dezurn victory.

But do those overwhelming odds in favour of Claressa Shields really reflect reality? Crews-Dezurn has only lost twice as a professional. The debut loss to Shields, and she gave Savannah Marshall an uncomfortable night before losing on points over ten hard rounds in Manchester in a big world super-middleweight unification showdown in 2023. Marshall was expected to win, but in a much easier fashion than how it turned out. Even in defeat, she doesn’t do so quietly. Or easily.

Crews-Dezurn has rebounded from that defeat to Marshall with two good victories. A victory over Shadasia Green in the fight after Marshall beat her looks even more impressive now than it did at the time. Green has since beaten Marshall. The form line carries plenty of credence. Shields deserves to be the betting favourite, but those wide odds might be a little off.

Both fighters are true pioneers of the modern era of female fighters. Shields has grabbed much of the limelight. Or more accurately, earned it. Crews-Dezurn has suffered somewhat in comparison. But you underestimate her at your peril.

Both are much better fighters than they were in 2016. Shields, especially, as grown in so many ways. Many lingering doubters would have been extinguished on that famous night in London in 2022. Shields got her revenge on Savannah Marshall for her one and only defeat inside a boxing ring. Inside and outside of the ring, Shields acted and fought like a superstar. She took it to the supposed big puncher and beat her British rival in comprehensive style over ten incredibly fast-paced rounds. Shields was crowned the undisputed middleweight champion that night at a sold-out O2 Arena in London on an iconic all-female card.

Shields has won four fights since and has now landed and settled in the heavyweight division. But weight is unlikely to be the deciding factor. Crews-Dezurn weighed 166½ lb last time out in a world super-middleweight fight; Shields was only eight pounds heavier in a heavyweight title fight against Lani Daniels last July. The weight differential is likely to be minimal in Detroit. Skill will decide the winner, not weight.

Crews-Dezurn knows the odds are firmly stacked against her, but revenge and belief can sometimes be the difference. Shields, who will probably start to drop back down to the lighter weights and look for big fights against the likes of Mikaela Mayer and Lauren Price, wants to end the rivalry in definitive fashion. “I plan on putting Franchon Crews on her back and leaving with the KO,” Shields says. “Franchon is elite, but I am super elite.”

Claressa Shields won on points in 2016. This time, she wants something more. Franchon Crews-Dezurn has never beaten Shields. She desperately wants to stop the rot in Detroit. Those in attendance at the Little Caesars Arena are unlikely to be disappointed with what they see. Another fight and another night that will undoubtedly showcase everything that is special about women’s boxing.