Claressa Shields Defeats Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Heated Fight
By David A. Avila
From rivals to friends and bitter enemies and back Claressa Shields used her speed to offset the rugged skills of Franchon Crews-Dezurn and retain the undisputed heavyweight championship on Sunday in Detroit.
It almost didn’t happen because of a shove during the weigh-in that erupted into a melee. Crews-Dezurn fell awkwardly.
But the title fight took place and more than 18,000 fans saw Shields (18-0, 3 Kos) erupt into a swarm of blows with Crews-Dezurn, almost identically like their first encounter 10 years ago in Las Vegas. This time at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
“We gave them what they wanted,” Shields told Crews-Dezurn.
Much has changed since the two American female champions first fought each other in 2016. Back then no woman in boxing made $1 million for a fight. Now several have made more than a million including Shields, who many say was the first.
Shields headlined another Salitas Promotion fight card in Detroit which has adopted her as its sports hero. Eager fans showed up and filled the seats at the arena. Many had heard rumors the fight might be cancelled due to a possible injury to Crews-Dezurn.
Not so, on Sunday evening there was Crews-Dezurn with her entourage and ready to rumble against her rival and former friend for the heavyweight world championship.
Crews-Dezurn let the punches flow as Shields rocketed back with her own buzzsaw of punches. They fired away in the corner of the boxing ring until the bell rang ending the first round.
The second round saw the same thing as Crews-Dezurn showed off some new defensive tricks such as slipping and punching. She also used a pivoting movement to slip out of range of Shields counters. It was heady stuff.
Shields has seen it all and she made her own adjustments. Instead of connecting with power shots she slipped into her tornado mode and unleashed barrages of punches that Crews-Dezurn tried to match. She could not.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist has made a career of unleashing blinding flurries of blows and daring anyone to keep pace. So far no one has come close. Except Crews-Dezurn says Shields
“That’s one of the best fights I’ve ever been in. I had to watch my ass,” said Shields excited about the test.
Crews-Dezurn had success with her long right jab that threw off Shields timing. Round after round that jab stopped Shields from over-running her foe.
“I felt like I had to take my time. Franchon hits hard. She was trying to get me with a shot,” said Shields about changing tactics. “I wanted to make sure I got the timing in her jab. I had to watch myself.”
Though Crews-Dezurn was effective with the jab and connecting with several potent uppercuts and looping rights, it was Shields ability to swarm her with blows that pierced the guard of the Baltimore fighter.
Round after round Shields rained blows at Crews-Dezurn but nothing could keep her from advancing forward like a steam shovel. It’s the style that has made her successful and a two-time super middleweight champion.
After 10 action-packed rounds all three judges scored for Shields 100-90 and she remains the undisputed heavyweight champion. Both fighters hugged after the fight and no animosity remained from the prior day.
“I’m not going to hate Franchon or anyone on their team,” Shields said.
Crews-Dezurn was equally gracious.
“I want to congratulate Claressa,” said Crews-Dezurn. A lot has transpired but I love this girl. If we have a chance to share the ring again, I’m right here.”
Other female bouts
Danielle Perkins (6-1, 3 Kos) used the knowledge from fighting the pound-for-pound queen and knocked out WBA light heavyweight titleholder Che Kenneally (5-1) to become the new champion.
“She was very strong and sturdy,” said Perkins.
Perkins and Australia’s Kenneally opened up the fight with furious exchanges with both connecting big blows. The tall Australian proved she could scrap and was willing to go to war to prove it. Her crisp punching helped win the first round.
The next two rounds belonged to Perkins whose heavy hands connected often and snapped the head back of the champion. It looked like a stoppage was looming.
Perhaps because of her dominance during the second and third round, Perkins began dancing and clowning a little and that allowed Kenneally the time to rally and win the fourth round.
In the fifth round Perkins was more focused and Kenneally just as ready. Both exchanged blows and realized the danger in exchanging so freely. During one of those exchanges Perkins the perfect moment to launch a right hook to the chin. Down went Kenneally in a bloody heap. Though she did beat the count she looked woozy and the fight was stopped at 1:45 of the sixth round.
“I got to let her come into my space and let it fly,” said Perkins of what she was thinking before connecting with the knockout shot.
Perkins was ruled the new WBA light heavy champion by knockout.
Kenneally had said before the fight that for this match she actually was receiving a monetary purse. That in previous fights she had to put up her own money. Not everyone makes million dollar purses in women’s boxing.
Perkins mentioned that losing to Claressa Shields helped immensely and set a new measuring stick for her.
“No one is comfortable against Claressa Shields,” Perkins said. “I’m new WBA champ.”
A super lightweight match saw Argentina’s Edith Matthysse (21-16-1, 4 Kos) win by stoppage at the end of the eighth round over Samantha Worthington (12-1).
Shannel Butler (7-0) won by unanimous decision over Danila Ramos (14-5) after eight rounds in a featherweight fight.
Savannah Tini (7-0) beat Vaida Masiokaite (11-30-6) by decision after eight rounds in a super lightweight match.
Jasmine Hampton (2-0) won by knockout in the fifth round over Agustina Vazquez (6-7-2) in a light fly contest.