Who will become undisputed? Claressa Shields v Marie Eve Dicaire - Fight Preview
Friday night sees the return of the self-proclaimed G.W.O.A.T (Greatest Woman Of All Time), Claressa Shields, as she takes on Marie Eve Dicaire in a super-welterweight unification contest in what is the main event of an all-female pay-per-view card.
Shields, boasting a record of 10-0, and already a three weight world champion at just 25-years-old, was last in action in January 2020, in what was her first fight as a super-welterweight, moving down from middleweight and winning both the WBC and WBO world titles straight away. Her opponent, Dicaire, herself has an impressive 17-0 record and is the current IBF champion at 154-pounds. Her last bout was back in November 2019, so both woman have had a long layoff.
Originally, this unification clash was set for May last year, but due to the unforeseen pandemic, the fight suffered just like the rest. However, this Friday night, the two best super-welterweights in woman’s boxing go head-to-head for all of the marbles.
In one corner you have the favourite, the self-proclaimed G.W.O.A.T, one of the biggest stars in boxing, Claressa Shields.
Since turning professional back in 2016, Shields has quickly established herself as arguably the best fighter in female boxing. Katie Taylor might have something to say on that matter, but it is unquestionable that the 25-year-old is a hugely talented fighter.
Having already won world titles in three weight divisions, unifying each one while she was at it, there is no question that ‘T-Rex’ is the real deal. Starting out as a super-middleweight, before stepping down to 160-pounds, before now campaigning at super-welterweight, the American superstar can quite rightly crown herself as the best female fighter of all time. This world title chase also made the American the quickest three weight world champion in the history of boxing.
On Friday night, Shields aims to rip the IBF strap from the waist of Dicaire, as well as picking up the vacant WBA super title in the process. The highly skilled, former amateur star has already unified every division she has competed in, whilst also becoming undisputed champion at middleweight in 2019 when she comprehensively out boxed Christina Hammer. A win at the weekend will mean that Shields becomes the undisputed 154-pound champion, and who would bet against her stepping down to welterweight and doing the same.
Claressa Shields aims to become undisputed champion of a second weight division (Picture: Boxing News) (Original photo: Stephanie Trapp/Showtime)
In the opposite corner, you have Marie Eve Dicaire. The undefeated veteran, who has held the IBF super-welterweight title since December 2018 when she beat Chris Namus, will be confident she can shock the world with a win on Friday.
Dicaire last fought in November 2019, so like Shields has had a long layoff from the ring. However, the 34-year-old made three successful defences of her IBF title in 2019, winning each one convincingly on points, so she will certainly be confident of getting her hand raised this coming weekend.
Although all the pre-fight energy and attention will be around Shields, Dicaire knows that she has what it takes to win. The Canadian star has nothing to lose, but everything to gain come fight night. Having never tasted defeat as a professional, it will take an impressive version of Shields to beat her, which is what makes this fight so interesting.
A win over Shields would be without a shadow of a doubt the biggest of her career, but it is certainly not out of the realms of possibility that Dicaire upsets the apple cart and goes back to Canada as the undisputed super-welterweight champion.
Marie Eve Dicaire is currently 17-0 and holds the IBF super-welterweight title (Photo: La Presse)
Fighter’s Form:
Claressa Shields
Ivana Habazin – WIN – UD (100-90, 99-89, 100-89)
Christina Hammer – WIN – UD (98-92, 98-91, 98-91)
Femke Hermans – WIN – UD (100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
Hannah Rankin – WIN – UD (100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
Marie Eve Dicaire
Ogleidis Suarez – WIN – UD (100-90, 99-91, 99-91)
Maria Lindberg – WIN – UD (98-92, 99-91, 99-91)
Mikaela Lauren – WIN – UD (98-92, 99-91, 97-93)
Chris Namus – WIN – UD (97-93, 97-93, 96-94)
Event Information:
Date: March 5th 2021
Time: Ring walk approx. 21.00 E.T
Venue: Dort Federal Event Center, Flint, Michigan, USA
Channel: FiteTV/Panama Cable Onda Sports
(Photo: @FiteTV Twitter)
Elsewhere on the card, Jamie Mitchell takes on Noemi Bosques in a bantamweight contest, Logan Holler fights Schemelle Baldwin in a middleweight clash as well as Danielle Perkins and Monika Harrison battling it out in a heavyweight contest.