Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn undercard is set
Claressa Shields versus Franchon Crews-Dezurn now has an undercard set for February 22 at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Shields, 17-0 (3 KOs), will fight for the first time in 2026, against Crews-Dezurn, 10-2 (2 KOs), in a bout that rekindles an old rivalry. Shields, a 30-year-old from Flint, Michigan, turned professional in 2016 against Crews-Dezurn. Crews-Dezurn, a 38-year-old from Baltimore, would lose the fight but go on to become a women’s undisputed super middleweight titleholder.
In the co-feature, light heavyweight Atif Oberlton, 14-0 (12 KOs) of Philadelphia, will face Joseph George, 13-1 (8 KOs) of Houston. Oberlton will be fighting for the first time since signing a co-promotional agreement with Salita Promotions.
“I want to stay active, but I also want to fight the right opponents and keep climbing,” Oberlton, 27, said. “My goal is to be a superstar, dominate the division, and show the world who I am. Salita gives me the platform to do that.”
WBA women’s light heavyweight titleholder Che Kenneally, 5-0 (2 KOs), will face Danielle Perkins, 5-1 (2 KOs) of Houston. Kenneally, a 31-year-old from Port Botany, Australia, was originally rumored to face Shields, and the 43-year-old Perkins fought Shields last year. The bout could see the winner as a future opponent for the winner of the main event.
Opening the DAZN broadcast will be WBA women’s interim junior welterweight titleholder Samantha Worthington, 12-0 (7 KOs), of Lexington, Kentucky, facing veteran Edith Soledad Matthysse, 20-16-1 (3 KOs), of Trelew, Chubut, Argentina. Worthington, 30, is promoted by Salita Promotions and Shields’ T-Rex Promotions, and won the title in July with a majority decision win over Victorie Piteau. Matthysse is a 45-year-old former titleholder.
The remaining bouts include heavyweight Pryce Taylor, 10-0 (6 KOs), of Brooklyn, New York, facing James Evans, 9-2-1 (7 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, in a 10-round bout. Women’s featherweight Savannah Tini, 6-0 (2 KOs), of Shelby Township, Michigan, facing Vaida Masiokaite, 11-29-6 (1 KO), of Panevezys, Lithuania. Junior lightweight Garrett Rice, 2-0 (1 KO), of Dearborn, Michigan, will return a mere 12 days after his last fight. Rice, a 24-year-old from Toledo, defeated Charles Scott Jnr via unanimous decision earlier this month. Middleweight Jaquan McElroy, 4-0 (2 KOs), of Flint, Michigan, will be featured against an opponent to be named at a later date. Welterweight Lance Smith, 5-0 (4 KOs) of Detroit, who trains with LJ Harrison at Super Bad Boxing, will be featured. Women’s bantamweight Jasmine Hampton, 1-0 (1 KO) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, a 14-time national champion, and featherweight Shannel Butler, 6-0 (3 KOs), will also be in action.
