Claressa Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring tonight after struggling to derive a situation in Showtime’s broadcasting agenda in 2020. The event is an all-female PPV which would maybe be conscious Shields strive and unify a third weight class. Standing in her methodology will likely be Marie-Eve Dicaire (17-0), the IBF gargantuan welterweight champion.
Shields had a colossal newbie profession, winning two world titles and two Olympic gold medals sooner than she turned pro after the Rio Video games. She tore throughout the (barren) gargantuan middleweight and middleweight divisions, deciding on up a important choose over longtime champion Cristina Hammer. She moved all the method in which down to gargantuan welterweight in early 2020 and picked up two vacant belts in opposition to Ivana Habazin.
Dicaire turned to boxing after a karate profession. She won the IBF belt in opposition to Chris Namus in 2018 and has made three defenses of her title since. Dicaire’s model is terribly paying homage to Holly Holm’s boxing model. She is a southpaw who uses largely a pawing jab to space up a left hand and her footwork to defend at vary. If her opponent closes the distance, she is posthaste to clinch. She is just not any longer merely about as athletic and posthaste as Holm used to be, but her model would possibly space off some concerns for Shields.
Shields is at her top when she uses her head circulation and counters an opponent going forward. She is competent combating on the front foot but has shown a tendency to smother her offense now and then by no longer doubling up assaults on the identical aspect or targeting the physique ample. Alternatively, the hole in athleticism and strategy between her and her contemporaries has averted somebody from capitalizing on this stereotypical offense and Dicaire it will likely be no rather a number of.
Going through her model would possibly display a disturbing journey for Shields, but she can also merely gentle be more than ready to defend up with Dicaire’s foot trail and has the head circulation to derive previous her 1-2. As soon as she gets in shut, she can also merely gentle be ready to capitalize on Dicaire’s lack of head circulation and be efficient ample on the inside of to financial institution in plenty of the rounds.
The ask isn’t so mighty whether or no longer or no longer Shields will choose – Dicaire doesn’t respect the skill to in actuality concern Shields and she or he is a huge well-liked for a motive. It is whether or no longer or no longer an all-female boxing PPV generally is a commercial success.
Shields has made a degree of calling the boxing world “sexist” for having to save on her respect PPV to give females boxers a spotlight. Whether it’s miles no longer any longer a design, Shields would possibly no longer stick with boxing mighty longer. She started coaching at JacksonWink in 2020 and can also merely gentle create her MMA debut in the PFL in June. She gentle fights ten pounds north of MMA featherweight in the intervening time, but one imagines that a clash of Olympic champions between Shields and Kayla Harrison is something PFL would possibly perchance be serious about selling, and would doubtlessly generate more hobby than most boxing fights on hand to Shields.
Shields vs Dicaire airs on PPV on Fite.TV on Friday March 5th at 9: 00pm ET / 6: 00pm PT. This can also merely cost fair a miniature $29.95 USD.
