Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews Dezurn

By Boxing

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews Dezurn Preview Feb. 22nd, 2026

Undefeated and undisputed Heavyweight Champion Claressa Shields of Flint, Michigan will be defending her IBF/WBC/WBO/WBF crowns this Sunday, February 22nd against Franchon Crews Dezurn of Norfolk, Virginia. The 10-round bout from Detroit, Michigan can be seen live on DAZN. This is a rematch as the two first met in their pro debuts back in 2016 with Shields winning a four-round unanimous decision. In her last outing in July, Shields beat Lani Daniels by unanimous decision. She stopped Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in the second round for the WBC and WBF Titles as well as the vacant WBO Light Heavyweight Belt in 2024 and then added the vacant WBO and WBF Heavyweight Belts in February, 2025 via unanimous decision over Danielle Perkins after dropping her in the 10th round. Shields is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-weight world champion as a pro. Crews Dezurn last stepped into the ring in June when she edged Citlalli Ortiz by majority decision to defend her Super Middleweight Belt. She won the vacant title in her previous fight with a unanimous nod over Shadasia Green in December, 2023.

Shields vs Crews-Dezurn Betting Odds

Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).

  • Franchon Crews Dezurn +1800
  • Claressa Shields -10000

My Pick

The 30-year-old Shields carries around a perfect record of 17-0 with 3 Ko’s to her name for a current knockout ratio of just 17.6 per cent. She’s boxed 143 rounds since making her pro debut in 2017 after reportedly going 77-1 as an amateur. Shields won gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics as a middleweight and as a pro she holds the record for becoming a two and three-weight world champion in the fewest professional contests and is the only boxer in history to hold four major world titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) at the same time in two different weight classes.

As an amateur, she also won gold at the 2014 and 2016 World Championships as well as the 2015 Pan American Games, where she took it as a light heavyweight. Since turning pro, she became the undisputed middleweight champion in 2019 by beating Christina Hammer and the undisputed light-middleweight champion two years later by beating Marie Eve Dicaire. From 2017 to 2018 she was also the unified IBF and WBC Super Middleweight Champion. Shields stands 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 68-inch reach. She’s no knockout artist though as she has halted just one of her past 13 opponents.

Crews Dezurn is 38 years old and enters the ring with a mark of 10-2 with 2 Ko’s and has boxed 98 rounds since making her pro debut against Shields in 2016. She is a former undisputed Super Middleweight Champion but she lost those belts by majority decision to Savannah Marshall in 2023 for her only other pro defeat. Crews Dezurn biggest wins have been over Maricela Cornejo (twice) and Shadasia Green. As an amateur, Crews Dezurn lost to Mary Spencer in the quarterfinals of the Pan American Games in 2011 as a light heavyweight.

She reached the final of the 2012 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and lost to Yuan Meiqing to take home a silver medal. At AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship in 2016 she won a bronze medal. As a youngster Crews Dezurn hoped for a singing career and was a contestant on American Idol. She measures 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 72-inch reach, so has a four-inch reach advantage on Shields but gives up an inch in height. As far as power is concerned, she’s about the same as Shields as just 20 per cent of her wins have come by stoppage.

Prediction…

Shields is eight years younger than Crews Dezurn and has a wealth of amateur and pro experience against slightly stiffer opposition. Neither of them really possess much in the way of power but Shields has significantly superior boxing skills and that’s why she’;s the heavy favourite once again. Most of her fights lack drama and action though and while she claims to be the greatest female boxer out there, she doesn’t doesn’t really entertain the fans. To be honest the cream of the crop in female boxing is in the lower weight divisions with women such as Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. I’m expecting Shields to win another ho-hum affair unless Crews Dezurn lets her hands go with bad intentions from the opening bell.

Shields is in her prime with better skills.

Play: Shields -10000 @ BetOnline.ag

Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.

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