Unified women's junior middleweight champion and top pound-for-pound female boxer Claressa Shields returns to the ring for the first time in 14 months on Friday as she battles IBF titlist Marie-Eve Dicaire for the undisputed junior middleweight championship at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Shields' hometown of Flint, Mich., in what will be an all-women's fight card. The vacant WBA title is also at stake.
A Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) win means she would be the first fighter in the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in two separate weight classes. The fight had been scheduled for last May but was scrapped due to the coronavirus.
In January 2020, the two-time Olympic gold medalist (2012, 2016) dropped down to 154 pounds and beat Ivana Habazin via unanimous decision to win the WBC and WBO junior middleweight titles to become the quickest person to claim three championships in three different weight classes. For the 24-year-old, she steps back into the ring after the most extended layoff of her career with the chance to make herstory one more time.
"I'm excited to be fighting another undefeated champion and to have the opportunity to make history by becoming the first fighter - male or female - to be undisputed champion in two weight divisions in the four-belt era," Shields said in a press release.
Dicaire (17-0) began her combat sports career in karate at six years old and became a black belt and a five-time world champion. The 34-year-old then turned her attention to the sweet science and reached the pinnacle when she defeated Chris Namus to win the IBF title in December 2018. She has defended the belt three times, but it doesn't get any bigger than facing quite arguably the best women's boxer in the world in a high-stakes showdown.
"I'm happy to finally be able to get back in the ring and face Claressa Shields," Dicaire said. "It's been a year now that I've been preparing exclusively for this fight. I'm used to making history in women's boxing.
History will take place. But who will make it? Shields or Dicaire?
Here is everything you need to know about Claressa Shields vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire.
What time is Claressa Shields vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire
- Date: Friday, March 5
- Time: 9 p.m. ET (main card)
- Main event: 11:30 p.m. ET (approximate)
The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET. Shields and Dicaire are expected to make their ring walks about 11:30 p.m. ET, although the exact time depends on the length of the earlier bouts.
How to watch Shields vs. Dicaire
- Pay-Per-View, FITE.TV
Shields vs. Dicaire is available on pay-per-view and can be streamed on FITE.TV.
How much does Shields vs. Dicaire cost?
The Claressa Shields vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire fight is on pay-per-view and FITE.TV for a suggested retail price of $29.95. Contact your local cable/satelitte company for exact pricing.
Where is the Shields vs. Dicaire fight?
Shields will fight Dicare at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint, Mich.. It will mark the first time Shields competes in her hometown venue. Dicaire also fights there for the first time.
Claressa Shields record and bio
- Name: Claressa Shields
- Nationality: American
- Born: March 17, 1995
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 10
- Record: 10-0 with two knockouts.
Marie-Eve Dicare record and bio
- Name: Marie-Eve Dicare
- Nationality: Canadian
- Born: July 29, 1986
- Height: N/A
- Reach: N/A
- Total fights: 17
- Record: 17-0 with zero knockouts.
Claressa Shields vs. Marie Eve Dicare fight card
Main card
- Claressa Shields vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire in a WBC/WBO/IBF/WBA Women’s Junior Middleweight Unification
- Raquel Miller vs. TBA; Women's Middleweight
- Nadia Meknouzi vs. Samantha Pill; Women's Super Middleweight
- Logan Holler vs. Schemelle Baldin; Female Middleweight
- Danielle Perkins vs. Monika Harrison; Female Heavyweight