Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn II and More News and Notes

 

By David A. Avila

It’s happening in Michigan. Detroit to be exact. After church on Sunday.

Claressa Shields the best female fighter in the world re-engages with Franchon Crews-Dezurn for the heavyweight championship. Anyone who witnessed their first encounter realizes it was Shields fiercest encounter.

Shields (17-0, 3 Kos) fights Crews-Dezurn (10-2, 2 Kos) on Sunday Feb. 22, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. DAZN will stream the Salitas Promotion boxing card.

“You will get your money’s worth,” said Shields who has a friendly rivalry with Crews. “You are going to get the best version of us.”

Recently, DAZN posted that Shields is the second-best female fighter pound for pound in the world. I have to disagree with that assessment for a variety of reasons.

First, Shields is undefeated after winning five weight divisions.

Second, she has rarely lost any rounds in her pro career. This is a fighter who does not rely on knockouts, yet her opposition has almost never won a round according to neutral judges.

Third, if all female fighters were the same height and weight, very few could match her total skills in the boxing ring. Shields can fight outside, inside or brawl if necessary. Wherever her opponent takes the fight Shields can match and surpass it.

“ I think I’m a lot better now. I think I understand professional boxing now,” said Shields about the difference between their first encounter in 2016. “I know how to break down my opponents now. I know how to turn my punches better now.”

Now, as good as Shields can fight, here comes Crews-Dezurn who was built to be the opposite. The Maryland fighter has always fought in the shadows of Shields but has managed to build a career by upsetting more favored fighters over and over.

Crews-Dezurn thrives on being the underdog and if you overlook her she will make anyone pay. She will brawl, maul and take your heart away with her determination like the back-alley fighter she is.

“I’m all gas, no brakes. Aint nobody stopping this train,” said Crews-Dezurn who is moving up in weight for this fight.

When Shields and Crews-Dezurn meet you can expect a fight that could be fought in some alley in Detroit or the DC area. Both are willing to “go street” just to prove how tough and determine they are.

These are two fighters bred in the slums of America and toughened by their experiences on the street. They learned their boxing skills in the boxing gym and amateur competition, but they learned how to fight in the streets. They are street fighters at heart.

Crews-Dezurn and Shields showed it in their first encounter in Las Vegas 10 years ago. They lit up the arena and the remaining fights on the Andre Ward fight card could not match the intensity of the women. They flamed out the arena that night.

If you break down their pro careers Shields had tough contests against Hanna Gabriels, Christina Hammer, and Savannah Marshall. Only because these women managed to win a round on the scorecards. But though she won every round against Crews-Dezurn when they first fought, every round was extremely competitive.

Crews-Dezurn cannot match the speed and skill of Shields, but when it comes to strength and determination that is where she thrives. Plus, she can take a punch better than any other woman in the boxing world.

The Maryland native bulled her way past Maricela Cornejo, savaged Elin Cederroos and Shadasia Green and barely lost to Savannah Marshall in England. She doesn’t fight to look pretty or slick, she fights for survival and to put bread on the table and that makes her dangerous against any opposition.

In her last match against the smaller Citlali Ortiz she sensed her title slipping away and found a way to keep her crown and more importantly the potential showdown with Shields. Crews-Dezurn gutted out a win and here we are.

Despite their friendship reputations are on the line.

“I believe in myself,” said Crews-Dezurn.

Shields promises violence.

“Come Feb. 22 I’m going to clench her heart. It’s going to be bad. It’s going to be bad, said Shields. “You are going to get the best version of us.”

Also on the same fight card light heavyweight Che Kenneally (5-0) fights Danielle Perkins (5-1) meet 10 rounds; super lights Samantha Worthington (12-0) meets Edith Matthysse in 10; featherweights Shannel Butler (6-0) and Danila Ramos (14-4) meet eight; Savannah Trini (6-0) and Vaida Masiokaite (11-29-6) meet eight and light flies Jasmine Hampton (1-0) and Agustina Vazquez (6-6-2) meet six.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

On Saturday Feb. 21, super feathers Maira Moneo (16-3) and Micaela Dominguez (6-3) meet 10 rounds for regional title at Buenos Aires. Also, flies Dana Chacon (0-0) and Sheila Olivera (0-1) meet four.

 

Germany

Katerina Tasic (1-0) knocked out Betina Krumholz (1-13) on Saturday Feb. 14. The super welterweight fight took place in Wurttemberg.

 

Ireland

On Saturday Feb. 21, welters Christina Desmond (2-0) and Johana Ramont (6-6-1) meet eight rounds at Cork.

 

Japan

Kanae Maehara (5-4-2) defeated Ayumi Shuzui (4-2) by decision after six on Tuesday Feb. 10. The minimumweight fight was held in Tokyo.

On Friday Feb. 20, bantams Sari Metcalf (3-3-2) and Maiko Iwasaki (3-0) meet six rounds in Tokyo. Also, atomweights Megumi Watanabe (3-2-6) and Yurie Kishi (3-2-1) meet six. Light flies Chiaki Yasui (2-3) and Miyako Nakao (1-1) meet four; bantams Arisa Kishimoto (0-1) and Miku Nagasaki (2-4-1) meet four; super flies Nano Hata (0-0-1) and Yui Yamashita (1-0-1) meet four; atomweights Natsume Kikuchi (2-1-1) and Mizuki Matsuoka (1-5-3) meet four; Cure Takana (0-1) and Saki Abe (0-1) meet four; super flies Ying Wang (1-1-1) and Mamiko Kageyama (2-1) meet four; and flies Reina Chiku (1-0) and Miku Tamaki (1-0) meet four.

 

Pakistan

On Wednesday Feb. 18, flyweights Bareera Jabbar (0-0) and Syeada Andalab (0-0) meet four rounds at Islamabad. Also, feathers Alishba Akhram (0-0) and Momina Fayyaz (0-0) meet four.

 

South Korea

On Saturday Feb. 21, flies Min Zy Choi (1-0) and Hye Sun Park (0-1-1) meet four rounds at Incheon. Also, Su Bin An (1-0) and Su Benn Kim (1-0) meet four.

 

Spain

Carolyn Redmond (8-2) defeated Joanna Franszcak (1-4) after six rounds on Friday Feb. 13. The super light fight took place in Marbella.

On Sunday Feb. 22, super flies Nairin Mota (0-1) and Griselda Torollari (6-4) meet four rounds at La Eliana.

 

Thailand

Magdalena Szwed (7-0) knocked out Sukanya Wiriya (4-9-1) in the second round on Saturday Feb. 14. The super fly fight took place in Bangkok.

Aigel Khudova (8-0) knocked out Yotsawadee (1-3) in the first round on Saturday Feb. 14. The super fly match was held in Phuket.

 

United Kingdom

Megan Redstall (7-0-1) defeated Consolata Musanga (14-9-4) after 10 rounds by decision on Sunday Feb. 15. The bantam fight took place in London. Also, lightweight Lillie Winch (6-0) beat Linzi Buxczynskyj (5-7).

Julia Lee (4-0) beat Jasmina Nad (11-39-5) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Feb. 14. The bantam fight was held in Woodford Green.

On Saturday Feb. 21, super welters Jenna Pilling (1-1) and Erica Alvarez (8-15) meet six rounds at Liverpool.

On Saturday Feb. 21, super lights Sandy Ryan (8-3-1) and Karla Zamora (12-10-2) meet 10 rounds for a vacant WBC world title at Nottingham. Also, bantams Tiah Mai Ayton (4-0) and Catherine Tacone (9-3-1) meet eight; and super bantams Molly McCann (2-0) and Beata Dudek (7-8) meet six. DAZN will stream the card.

On Saturday Feb. 21, super bantams Eilish Tierney (3-1) and Kira Carter (0-27-1) meet six rounds at Ipswich.

 

USA

Courtney Chase (0-0-1) and Sarah Click (2-12-2) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Friday Feb. 13. The super bantam fight was held in Fall River, Mass.

Caroline Veyre (11-1) won by decision over Delfine Persoon (50-4) after 10 rounds on Tuesday Feb. 10. The WBC super feather fight was held in Grand Rapids, Mich.

On Friday Feb. 20, lightweights Gabriella Tellez (6-0) and Calista Salgado (22-20-4) meet eight rounds at Orlando, Florida.

On Friday Feb. 20, super bantams Melissa Odessa Parker (6-4-1) and Chantall Sumrall (1-3-1) meet six rounds at Houston, Texas.

On Saturday Feb. 21, super bantams Jewry Rodriguez (0-0) and Kim Colbert (3-31) meet four rounds at Houston, Texas.

On Sunday Feb. 22, heavyweights Claressa Shields (17-0) and Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-2) meet 10 rounds for the undisputed heavyweight championship at Detroit, Michigan. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions card. Also, light heavies Che Kenneally (5-0) and Danielle Perkins (5-1) meet 10 rounds; and light flies Jasmine Hampton (1-0) and Agustina Solange (6-6-2) meet six rounds.