Tonight marks one of the most anticipated bouts in women’s boxing history — a rematch between Claressa Shields and Franchón Crews-Dezurn. Nearly ten years ago, both fighters made their professional debuts against each other on the undercard of a major boxing event. Shields won that first meeting by a unanimous decision, launching her toward superstardom. Now on February 22, 2026, they meet again — but this time with much more on the line: Shields’ undisputed heavyweight championship belts.

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It’s rare for a rivalry to span a full decade and still captivate fight fans; this one has — and the story is about legacy, redemption, and the evolution of women’s boxing itself.

📍 Location & Broadcast — The Stage Is Set

The fight takes place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, a venue steeped in boxing history and a de facto home crowd for Shields, who hails from nearby Flint. The arena is sold out with tens of thousands expected to be in attendance, packed with fans, media, and celebrities.

For fight fans around the world, the bout is airing live on DAZN — the primary streaming platform for the event — with prelims beginning in the afternoon and the main event slated for 8 p.m. ET (that’s late evening in the U.S., and early morning the next day in South Asia, including Bangladesh).

🥊 Fighters’ Backstories & Stakes
Claressa Shields — The Undefeated Champion

Claressa Shields enters tonight undefeated at 17–0, widely regarded as one of the greatest female boxers of all time. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and has won undisputed championships in multiple weight classes — including middleweight and super middleweight — before becoming the first undisputed women’s heavyweight champion.

Shields’ career has been characterized by dominance, precision, and a willingness to fight the best available opponents. She signed a historic multi-fight, multi-million-dollar deal ahead of this fight, one of the biggest contracts in women’s boxing history.

Tonight, she defends her titles for the second time as undisputed champion — a chance to cement her legacy and consummate her rise from Olympic champion to boxing immortality.

Franchón Crews-Dezurn — The Challenger with a Mission

Franchón Crews-Dezurn, now 10–2 as a professional, is no stranger to elite competition. She became an undisputed super middleweight champion and has been a respected name in women’s boxing for years.

Crews-Dezurn had an immediate rivalry with Shields from early in both of their careers. After losing their first bout in 2016, she went on to achieve championship success and now comes up in weight class to challenge for Shields’ heavyweight titles — seeking not only to avenge that loss but also to prove her championship pedigree at a second higher weight.

🔥 Intensity Before the Fight — Weigh-In Drama

What’s unusual tonight is that the tension between these two protagonists boiled over before the fight even began. At the official weigh-in on February 21, a dramatic confrontation turned into a physical altercation — pushing, shoving, and a chaotic scene that required security intervention. Videos went viral across social media, capturing the moment both fighters squared off, got nose-to-nose, and exchanged heated gestures.

Reports suggest that Crews-Dezurn suffered a minor injury to her knee and ankle during the melee, prompting questions about whether she would still compete. Although the fight remains scheduled, this added drama has amplified the stakes and the psychological warfare outside the ring.

Shields took to social media to deny any intentional provocation and asserted that such confrontations are part of boxing — especially in high-profile title fights. Crews-Dezurn responded with her own rebuttal, continuing the verbal sparring online.

🥊 The Build-Up: Press Conferences & Predictions

In the final press conference ahead of the fight, both fighters spoke candidly:

Shields expressed respect for Crews-Dezurn, acknowledging the long history between them and emphasizing how this rematch elevates both of their legacies. She also hinted she expects a definitive victory — possibly even a stoppage.

Crews-Dezurn described this opportunity as aligned with her mission to push women’s boxing forward and stated she has worked hard for this moment.

Analysts have suggested that Shields’ speed and experience as a heavyweight could be decisive, while Crews-Dezurn’s game plan would involve pressure and tactical adjustments from their first fight years ago.

📊 Fight Card & Undercard Dynamics

This event isn’t just about Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn — it’s the main event of a stacked card. Preliminary and undercard fights include notable matchups like:

Che Kenneally vs. Danielle Perkins

Pryce Taylor vs. James Evans

A series of rising prospects in earlier bouts produced live on the Zeus Network.

These fights keep the energy high and bolster the overall spectacle as the evening progresses toward the undisputed title showdown.

🥇 Live Atmosphere — The Arena Tonight

As of the latest reports on fight day:

The crowd at Little Caesars Arena has been electric, with fans chanting, banners waving, and media coverage buzzing.

Celebrities and boxing legends fill ringside seats.

Commentary teams are preparing to call one of the biggest women’s boxing matches ever promoted on live DAZN coverage.

This fight is not just a championship defense; it’s a cultural event. Women’s boxing has historically struggled for equal billing on major cards — but tonight’s main event status is a testament to how far the sport has come.

🤼 What’s at Stake

For Shields: A successful title defense further solidifies her place among the all-time greats and caps a decade of dominance.

For Crews-Dezurn: This is a chance at redemption and legacy — to upset an elite champion and rewrite her narrative.

For Women’s Boxing: A huge fight like this — headlining a major arena with global streaming — underscores the growth and commercial viability of the women’s sport.

📺 Where to Watch & How It’s Being Covered

DAZN: World feed for the live main event.

Zeus Network: Streaming prelims earlier in the day.

The fight streams globally, requiring a subscription in most regions.

🥊 Final Thoughts Before They Enter the Ring

As the fighters prepare backstage — gloves taped, last-minute strategy whispered, trainers pacing — there’s a quiet tension before the storm. The journey from their first four-round fight in 2016 to this undisputed heavyweight title fight is a remarkable arc for both women. Whatever happens inside the ropes tonight will be talked about for months — and could go down as one of the defining moments in the history of women’s combat sports.

• Location : United States

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