Flint native and Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion Claressa Shields will return to the ring in a long-anticipated rematch with Franchon Crews-Dezurn at Little Caesars Arena on Feb. 22, 2026.
Shields will defend her Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship for the second time and will make her first fight since signing a historic $8 million deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records—the largest contract in women’s boxing history.
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“Claressa Shields represents everything Wynn Records stands for excellence, innovation, and breaking barriers,” said Wynn Records CEO Ruben Branson. “Her $8 million deal isn’t just a milestone for women’s boxing, it’s a statement about what’s possible when talent meets vision. We’re proud to stand behind The GWOAT as she returns home to defend her title and continue rewriting history.”
“This fight is more than just a rematch, it’s a moment for the culture,” said rapper Papoose. “Claressa is the embodiment of greatness, discipline, and determination. She’s proven time and again that she’s not just the best in women’s boxing, she’s one of the best, period. February 22 is going to be exciting to watch, and Wynn Records is honored to be part of this historic chapter.”
The high-stakes showdown marks her official return to the promotional powerhouse and sets the stage for one of the most meaningful fights of her career.
The highly anticipated event takes place at Little Caesars Arena, doors open at 4 p.m., and will stream live on boxing streaming service, DAZN
“I’m honored to return to Detroit to defend my undisputed heavyweight world championship,” Shields said. “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.”
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.
“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.”
“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 has been eagerly awaiting the chance to rematch Shields and even the score.
“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.
“This fight represents everything Claressa Shields has stood for since day one, heart, courage, and a relentless commitment to greatness and equality for women all around the world, something she has championed since her very first day in the gym,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Nearly a decade ago, Claressa and Franchon stepped into the ring as two Olympians making their professional debuts. Since then, both have risen to become world champions and global forces in women’s boxing. Now, these two giants meet again under the largest contract in the history of the sport, in a matchup that carries international significance.”
“Our partnership with Wynn Records allows us to amplify Claressa’s reach and bring this historic moment to fans around the world,” Salita continued. “February 22 is more than a rematch — it is a landmark for our sport and a reflection of how far women’s boxing has come.”
The event is promoted by Salita Promotions in partnership with Wynn Records and co-promoted by 313 Presents. A special ticket pre-sale window opens on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. ET. Visit 313Presents.com and Ticketmaster.com and use the code GWOAT to purchase. Additional event details will be released in the coming weeks.