Claressa “The GWOAT” Shields (17-0, 3 KO’s) will return to the ring on Sunday, February 22, 2026, headlining a blockbuster night at Little Caesars Arena, a long-anticipated rematch with Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-2, 2 KO’s).
The woman who shared her professional debut nearly 10 years ago. On November 19, 2016, two decorated amateurs, Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn made their simultaneous professional debuts against each other. Shields entered that moment fresh off winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals, becoming the first American boxer, male or female, to ever accomplish the feat.
Their debuts unfolded on the undercard of Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev, an Olympian-to-Olympian handoff that symbolized the path Shields was beginning as she stepped into the professional ranks. Shields won that night, launching a career that would redefine women’s boxing. Crews-Dezurn turned the loss into momentum, rebuilding herself into an undisputed world champion at Super Middleweight. Their stories diverged, but the tension of that shared beginning, and the unanswered question of what a rematch would look like, has persisted ever since.
SHIELDS:
“In 2016 I had just come off winning two Olympic gold medals, fresh out of the amateurs, and finding an opponent was tough, Franchon stepped in,” Shields said. “I’ve grown a lot since that first victory, going on to win nineteen world titles, the ESPY award, and countless other achievements, but me and Franchon have unfinished business that needs to be settled. She’s been poppin’ it like she can whoop me in a world championship fight. We went four rounds in our pro debut, and this fight will pick up from round five.”
“I’m honored to return to Detroit to defend my undisputed heavyweight world championship,” Shields continued. “Selling out Little Caesars Arena was a dream, and my fans made that come true. Fighting in Michigan motivates me, and it also puts pressure on me because I never want to fail them.”
“In my first fight with Franchon I won a unanimous decision, but come February 22, I don’t have those same plans,” said Shields. I plan on putting Franchon Crews on her back and leaving with the KO. My last few fights, I was dealing with injuries, but now I’m 100 percent. Franchon is elite, but I am super elite, and I plan on proving that come fight night.”
CREWS-DEZURN:
“I’ve been waiting and working a long time for this moment, and we finally meet again,” said Crews-Dezurn. “This time as established champions with great legacies. I’m daring to be even greater by going up in weight, strutting into hell so I can create my heaven. I’m a worldwide woman that’s good in any hood and can’t wait to give Detroit, along with the world, a great fight. This is my sixth fight in a row on DAZN and I am grateful to be back once again with everything on the line and grateful to Salita Promotions and my manager Peter Kahn for getting this fight made.
“For Salita Promotions, this moment is equally full circle. Dmitriy Salita’s first fight with Shields took place that same night, the start of a partnership that would help establish her as a global force. Nearly a decade later, they reunite under the biggest deal in women’s boxing history, returning to the stage where Shields has become one of the sport’s most celebrated champions.”
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