Detroit, MI – In a highly anticipated rematch that solidified her reign as the undisputed queen of women’s boxing, Claressa Shields showcased her superior skill and power to defeat Franchon Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision on Sunday night at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The event, presented by Marshall Kauffman’s Kings Promotions and Dmitriy Salita’s Salita Promotions, saw Shields, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-division world champion, comfortably defend her collection of heavyweight titles.
The bout, contested over 10 two-minute rounds, was a masterclass in boxing technique from the Flint, Michigan native. Shields, fighting at 174 pounds with a professional record of 18-0 (3 KOs), proved too sharp, too precise, and too powerful for Crews-Dezurn (10-3, 2 KOs), who weighed in at 174 ¼ pounds and hailed from Baltimore, Maryland. The judges’ scorecards reflected Shields’ dominance, with all three officials scoring the bout a resounding 100-90 in her favor. Sparkle Lee served as the evening’s respected referee.
The rematch, a nod to their professional debut encounter in 2016, began with Shields establishing her rhythm early. While Crews-Dezurn showed flashes of her "Heavy Hitting Diva" moniker in the second round with a spirited exchange, Shields quickly regained control. From the third round onward, Shields systematically dismantled her opponent, landing the cleaner and more impactful punches. Her jab was effective, setting up powerful right hands that kept Crews-Dezurn on the defensive.
The physical toll on Crews-Dezurn became evident in the eighth round when a well-placed right hand from Shields drew blood from her mouth. The ninth round continued in a similar vein, characterized by limited feints and heavy exchanges, with Shields consistently getting the better of the exchanges. In the final round, Crews-Dezurn attempted to rally, pressing Shields against the ropes for a period, but the undisputed champion weathered the storm and finished strong, outworking her opponent in the closing minute to seal her victory.
Although the bout was officially contested at heavyweight and neither fighter exceeded the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds, Crews-Dezurn had moved up from the super middleweight division (168 pounds) for this challenge. Shields, already a dominant force across multiple weight classes, demonstrated her ability to adapt and conquer at this heavier, albeit still relatively light, division.
Undercard Highlights Showcase Emerging Talent and Veteran Prowess
The undercard provided a compelling slate of action, featuring a mix of established contenders and rising prospects.
In a highly anticipated bout for the WBC USA title, WBA Continental Americas light heavyweight champion Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberlton (15-0, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia delivered a swift and decisive victory. He stopped Joseph George Jr. (13-2, 8 KOs) of Houston after just one round of a scheduled 10-round affair. The fight was unfortunately marred by a clash of heads in the closing seconds of the opening round. Tragically, George Jr. fell from his stool between rounds and was deemed unable to continue, leading to the stoppage. Referee Ansel Stewart oversaw the contest.
In the women’s super lightweight division, Edith Soledad Matthysse (21-16-1, 4 KOs) of Trelew, Chubut, Argentina, proved her experience, stopping Samantha “The Heat” Worthington (12-1, 7 KOs) of Lexington, Kentucky, in the eighth round of their scheduled 10-round bout. Matthysse, a seasoned campaigner, demonstrated resilience and tactical acumen against the undefeated Worthington.
The women’s light heavyweight division also saw an impressive performance from southpaw Danielle “Brooklyn Brickhouse” Perkins (6-1, 3 KOs) of Houston. Perkins rebounded from losing the opening round to stop her Australian opponent, Chei Kenneally (5-1, 2 KOs) of Port Botany, New South Wales, at 1:45 of the sixth round in a scheduled 10-round contest. Perkins consistently applied pressure, forcing Kenneally to the ropes before landing a decisive left and right hook combination to the chin, prompting referee Ben Rodriguez to wave off the fight.
In featherweight action, Philadelphia’s southpaw Shanell “The Sniper” Butler (7-0, 3 KOs) continued her undefeated streak, securing an eight-round decision victory over Danila “A Guerreira” Ramos (14-5, 1 KO) of Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil. Butler showcased her precise boxing against the game Brazilian opponent.
The heavyweight division featured a powerful display from Brooklyn, New York’s Pryce Taylor (11-0, 7 KOs). Taylor stopped James Evans (9-3-1, 7 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, at 0:53 of the fifth round in a scheduled eight-round bout. Taylor, weighing in at a formidable 275 ¼ pounds, scored a knockdown in the fourth round with a well-executed combination and sealed the victory with a devastating right hand in the fifth, leading referee Stewart to halt the contest.
Additional Results from the Detroit Card:
- Super Lightweight: Savannah Tini (7-0, 2 KOs) of Shelby Township, Michigan, defeated Vaida Masiokaite (11-30-6, 1 KO) of Panevezys, Lithuania, over eight rounds.
- Super Lightweight: Lance Smith (6-0, 5 KOs) of Detroit put on a show, stopping Jorge Omar Vizcarrondo Pacheco (2-2-2, 2 KOs) of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, in the third round of a scheduled six-round bout.
- Light Flyweight: Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Jasmine Hampton (2-0, 2 KOs), a southpaw, secured a stoppage victory over Augustina Solange Vazquez (6-7-2, 1 KO) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in five rounds of a scheduled six-round contest.
- Heavyweight: Flint, Michigan’s Sardius Simmons (7-0, 3 KOs), a southpaw, earned a four-round decision win against Dylan Potter (2-3-1, 0 KOs) of Olympia, Washington.
- Super Welterweight: Jaquan McElroy (4-0, 2 KOs) of Flint continued his early career success with a four-round decision over Andre Johnson (2-4-1, 2 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Michigan.
The evening’s proceedings were expertly guided by veteran ring announcers Pete Trevino Jr. and Jimmy Lennon Jr., adding a layer of professional polish to the night’s boxing action.
About the Author:
Ken Hissner is a senior boxing journalist at Boxing News 24 with more than 20 years of experience covering the sport. Known for his ringside reporting, detailed results, and historical perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of boxing across eras.
