Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn made their pro debuts against each other 10 years ago, and with both becoming tremendous fighters since then, it is a grudge match to go along with a heavyweight title fight.
Shields enters as a massive -2000 favorite, while Crews-Dezurn is a +1280 underdog. Here are my Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn predictions and free betting picks from Detroit.
Shields vs Crews-Dezurn prediction and pick
- My fight prediction: Shields moneyline (-2000 at FanDuel)
- My best bet: Shields by decision (-500 at FanDuel)
Fight analysis
There isn’t a fighter in women’s boxing who can match Claressa Shields’ combination of ring IQ, footwork, and layered offense. Her ability to control distance, dictate pace, and pile up clean combinations remains unmatched.
While she isn’t known as a knockout puncher, her accuracy and timing keep opponents cautious and hesitant to press forward.
Shields has captured titles across five divisions and now holds the women’s heavyweight crown, coming off a dominant win over Lani Daniels in which Daniels went three rounds without landing a single punch.
Franchon Crews-Dezurn has developed into a solid professional, but unlike Shields, she appears to have reached her ceiling. The former undisputed super middleweight champion moves up in weight for another shot at her longtime rival, largely because viable alternatives at this level are scarce.
Their first meeting was a lopsided decision victory for Shields that helped launch her run toward becoming arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Crews-Dezurn has carved out a strong career of her own, winning titles and establishing herself as a consistent presence at the top level, even within a relatively shallow talent pool.
Both fighters have improved since then, but stylistically, the matchup still favors Shields heavily.
With Shields firmly in her prime and Crews-Dezurn showing signs of decline, the speed, movement, and technical superiority should once again dictate the outcome. Even in a conservative performance, Shields’ control of the fight should be decisive, especially in front of a Detroit crowd. Shields is the pick.
Best best analysis
These two fighters, have combined for only five knockouts in their professional careers. This is going to be a landslide decision win for Shields, just like the first time they fought. My best bet is to pick Shields by decision.
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn odds
| Method of victory | Claressa Shields | Franchon Crews-Dezurn |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -2000 | +1280 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +440 | +2700 |
| Win by points or decision | -500 | +1500 |
| Draw | +2500 | +2500 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of February 22.
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn tale of the tape
| Shields | Crews-Dezurn | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Age | 38 |
| 5-foot-8 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| Heavyweight | Weight Class | Heavyweight |
| 68 inches | Reach | 72 inches |
| 17-0 | Record | 10-2 (1 NC) |
| 3 | Wins by KO | 2 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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