They first fought in 2016 on the Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev undercard. 4 rounds. Shields won a unanimous decision. On the time, women’s boxing was still fighting for Olympic inclusion and tv dates. Now nine belts sat on the table at Thursday’s press conference.
Shields, 17-0, spoke concerning the early blueprint.
“She was my motivation back then,” Shields said. “I knew from back then that she hit hard. That’s what I noticed after I was 13. I said, that lady hits hard, OK.”
She described studying Crews-Dezurn as an adolescent.
“Once I ran, I thought of her. Once I sparred within the ring, I thought of her. Once I punched the bag, I thought of her. And it’s been that way for a really very long time.”
Crews-Dezurn, 10-2, sees the rematch as overdue.
“It is a very long time within the making,” she said. “I’ve all the time told Claressa our journeys were going to be intertwined.”
Technically, Shields fights behind a pointy jab and quick feet. She sets range early, then lets mixtures go. At heavyweight, punch selection and conditioning determine pace late. Extra weight tests stamina.
Crews-Dezurn is physical inside. She leans on opponents, digs to the body, and keeps her head on the chest in close quarters. Moving up from super middleweight asks her to hold that style over ten rounds against a natural larger champion.
Shields is the undisputed heavyweight champion. Crews-Dezurn holds unified belts at 168. Sunday doesn’t shift those super middleweight titles. It does, nevertheless, tie up the heavyweight division. Mandatory challengers wait once this defense is complete. Sanctioning fees are already in place. A victory secures leverage for the following negotiation.
Detroit has grow to be Shields’ base. That is her fifth straight fight in Michigan and fourth at LCA. She drew 15,600 last July against Lani Daniels. The constructing expects similar numbers Sunday night.
Respect was visible on the press conference. It ends on the bell.
Date: Sunday
Start time: 7 pm ET USA, 12 am UK
Streaming platform: DAZN
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
Fight card: Claressa Shields 17-0 vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn 10-2, undisputed heavyweight championship; 11 total bouts, first fight 4:30 p.m. ET