Showing posts with label Marie-Eve Dicaire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marie-Eve Dicaire. Show all posts

Friday, May 14, 2021

Camara Upsets Hardy In Murfreesboro, TN

 

Lightweight Jessica Camara scored the biggest win of her career by scoring an upset eight round unanimous decision over former WBO Featherweight world champion Heather Hardy on Friday night at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, TN. In what was the main event of a three bout all Women’s Boxing card, Hardy, who was coming off of an eighteen month layoff and fighting for the first time in the 135lb. Lightweight division, scored a flash knockdown of Camara in the first round in an exchange of hooks. Despite having an advantage because of scoring a knockdown, Hardy found it difficult to let her hands go consistently. This allowed Camara to gradually build momentum and by the midway point of the fight, the ebb and flow was in her favor. Camara’s effective aggression, timing, and combination punching became the story of the fight and was the ultimate determining factor in Camara scoring the unanimous decision victory. Official scores were: 79-73, 78-73, and 77-74 in favor of Camara. Jessica Camara advances to 8-2, with 0 Knockouts. Heather Hardy falls to 22-2, with 4 Knockouts.

 

Also on this card:

 

A battle between Welterweights who were making their respective professional debuts saw Kelsey Wickstrum score a hard-fought six round majority decision over Stevie Jane Coleman. In what was a fight fought in close from the outset that saw several shifts in momentum, it was Wickstrum, who was able to get the upper hand by a narrow margin with some good body shots and hooks throughout. Official scores were: 57-57 (Even), and 58-56 (On two scorecards) in favor of Wickstrum. Kelsey Wickstrum advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Stevie Jane Coleman falls to 0-1, with 0 Knockouts.

 

In the opening bout of the evening, Lightweight Melissa St Vil scored an eight round unanimous decision over former WBC Jr, Lightweight world champion Olivia Gerula. With both fighters coming off lengthy layoffs, St Vil used lateral movement and consistent combination punching to get the better of Gerula, who was competing in her first bout in over three years. The primary difference in this fight was the hand speed of St Vil, who seemed one step ahead of Gerula, who simply could not get on the inside and could not get her punches off first in exchanges. Official scores were: 80-72, and 78-74 (On two scorecards) in favor of Melissa St Vil. Melissa St Vil advances to 14-4-4, with 1 Knockout. Olivia Gerula falls to 18-19-2, with 3 Knockouts.

 

Although the story of this card was the fact that it was the second all women’s Boxing event to take place and be televised by a global platform in a span of two months following the Claressa Shields-Marie-Eve Dicarie Jr. Middleweight unification bout earlier this year that was streamed via digital pay-per-view on FITE TV, this card, which was promoted by Hall of Fame promoter Lou DiBella and broadcast globally via UFC Fight Pass, had what some might call an unexpected result in Jessica Camara scoring an upset victory over former world champion Heather Hardy.

 

Hardy, who lost her world championship in a unification bout against Amanda Serrano in September 2019, like many fighters throughout the entire sport has been impacted severely by the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, which was largely responsible for her lengthy inactivity going into this fight with Jessica Camara. Whether or not that inactivity was something that worked against her as this fight progressed is something that will probably be debated amongst Boxing fans. The idea of a rematch between the two is something that should be considered provided that the circumstances of the ongoing epidemic allow it and whether both fighters want a second encounter.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. 

 

Follow Beau Denison On Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

SuperWomen: A Win For Boxing

 

The bout between undefeated world champions Claressa Shields and Marie-Eve Dicaire to determine the Undisputed Women’s Jr. Middleweight world championship was more than merely a unification bout to determine an undisputed champion between two great fighters. This fight was a symbol of progress for the women of Boxing as a whole. After all, there are some who will say that the first time they were exposed to Women’s Boxing on television was during the early-mid 1990’s when Christy Martin made a name for herself competing on undercards of major Boxing events, many of which were broadcast on pay-per-view. Although Martin’s legacy as a trailblazer for women in the sport is more than secure after compiling a Hall of Fame career, the sport as a whole continued to struggle for consistent exposure on television particularly here in the United States. 

Credit: FITE 

 

When the decision was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to sanction Women’s Boxing for the first time in the 2012 Summer Olympics, it opened a new opportunity for Women in the sport. As many know, Claressa Shields not only seized the opportunity, but arguably took the spotlight in both the 2012 and 2016 games by becoming the only Olympic boxer in the history of the United States to win consecutive gold medals. She then was able to benefit from the increased exposure upon turning professional in 2016. Along with the exposure Shields was able to receive came increased exposure for the entire sport of Women’s Boxing.

 

Over her professional career, Shields has built a resume of her own in becoming a three-division world champion in only ten pro bouts and completely unifying the 160lb. Middleweight division in the process. When Shields faced Marie-Eve Dicaire, she was chasing further Boxing history in attempting to become the first fighter male or female in the history of the sport to fully unify two weight classes. While this in itself was historic, it would come on a night where Women’s Boxing took center stage, as the main event of a pay-per-view card of all women’s bouts. 

 

What took place when Shields and Dicaire squared off in the ring at the Dort Financial Center in Shields’ hometown in Flint, MI on March 5th was essentially what one would expect to see from a great fighter in a high stakes situation. For ten rounds, Shields put on a full demonstration of her Boxing skills. Whether it was her defense, combination punching, or just her overall skillset, this fight as much as any of her previous bouts as a professional or an amateur showed not only why many consider Shields the top Women’s fighter in the world, but also that her skills continue to evolve.

 

In previewing this fight, I stated that stylistically things seemed to favor Shields because of her tendency to be aggressive and apply pressure on her opponents. While this indeed was a key component of her strategy in this fight, what was impressive was how she essentially switched her approach throughout. Switched her approach not because her initial approach of aggression and pressure was unsuccessful, but as an added element that kept Dicaire from being able to find a rhythm. In simple terms, Shields did not do too much of only one aspect, but mixed every aspect together in near perfect execution. When she felt like forcing the fight on Dicaire, she did, when she wanted to primarily use defense and her counter punching to dictate the combat, she did. This strategy was effective to such a degree that Dicaire, a fighter who is most effective when she is able to use angles, lateral movement, and distance to execute her offense, was unable to settle down and let her hands go with consistency. Whether it was nerves in fighting for an undisputed championship for the first time in her career, a healthy respect for Shields’ skillset, Dicaire was not able to implement a similar approach as she has done previously in her career and this ultimately resulted in Shields winning every round on all three judges scorecards, winning a ten round unanimous decision to secure her second undisputed world championship in a second weight class after previously unifying the Middleweight division in her career.

 

Although much of the focus of this card and subsequently of this post-column centers on Claressa Shields and will conclude on the subject of where she goes after completely unifying two weight classes, the all-women’s event SuperWomen also featured three other bouts in the Bantamweight and Heavyweight divisions that also need discussion. The first of these bouts featured Bantamweight contender Marlen Esparza, who scored a six round unanimous decision over Shelly Barnett.

 

Esparza, who is a former world title challenger having suffered her lone career defeat in that challenge to undefeated WBA Flyweight champion Seneisa Estrada in November 2019, has worked her way back into world title contention as she is currently the WBC’s top contender in the Flyweight division. Esparza however, has shown she is a contender in both the 112lb. Flyweight division and the 118lb. Bantamweight division as she outworked veteran Shelly Barnett over the six round distance to win a unanimous decision. While it is not uncommon in Women’s Boxing to see fighters move between weight classes on a per fight basis depending on what opportunities may be available to them, Esparza is the current mandatory challenger for current WBC world champion Ibeth Silva and it is logical barring things like potential injuries or anything related to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, that Esparza will likely look to challenge Silva in the near future if a potential world championship opportunity in the Bantamweight division is not an option at the present time.

 

The second Bantamweight bout that took place on the SuperWomen event featured undefeated rising contender Jamie Mitchell facing veteran Noemi Bosques. This fight was controlled by Mitchell, who’s harder punches and ring generalship gradually wore a “Game”, but ultimately over matched Bosques before the bout was stopped in the fifth round giving Mitchell her sixth career victory in eight professional bouts.

 

In Mitchell’s eight career bouts, she has fought to two draws. One of those draws came against perhaps her best known opponent thus far Britain Hart in August 2019. Hart as many know recently scored a five round unanimous decision over MMA star Paige VanZant, in a fight fought under Bareknuckle Boxing rules in the Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Much like more opportunities are opening up for women in traditional Boxing, the idea of the women who competed on this card potentially competing in Bareknuckle Boxing should not be dismissed as Bareknuckle Boxing has re-emerged in the last decade in various forms and is seeing continuing growth around the world. Perhaps a potential bout for Mitchell off of her victory over Bosques could be a rematch with Hart fought under either traditional or Bareknuckle rules.

 

As Women’s Boxing has increased in exposure, among the the weight classes that have been able to take advantage of the exposure has been the Heavyweight division. The final preliminary bout that took place prior to Claressa Shields’ bout with Marie-Eve Dicaire was a Heavyweight rematch between undefeated Danielle Perkins and Monika Harrison. A rematch from last August that was fought in the Cruiserweight division, Perkins successfully made her professional debut on that evening by scoring a four round unanimous decision over Harrison. Now in her third bout this time fought at Heavyweight, Perkins saw similar results in her second encounter with Harrison as she experienced in her pro debut. Perkins out worked Harrison over six rounds to earn a convincing unanimous decision victory. If there was a slight difference between this fight and their first meeting last year, it appeared in the second half of this rematch that if Perkins opted to apply more pressure on Harrison, she may have been able to get a stoppage as Harrison appeared to struggle in the latter stages of the bout.

 

It is hard to necessarily say a fighter with only three professional bouts is ready for a potential world title shot. While in most cases this is true when discussing Men’s Boxing, it’s important to keep in mind that Women’s Boxing is still very much a sport that is growing in both the traditional and Bareknuckle forms. As such, it is not hard to envision Perkins possibly getting a shot at a world championship in the Heavyweight division in the near future depending on whether an opportunity for a championship bout exists. One should also consider that Perkins rematch against Harrison was for the Women’s WBC Silver championship in the Heavyweight division. While such championships are not held in high regard throughout the entire sport, in reality, the silver championship grants the holder of it a higher position in the WBC’s rankings in a given weight class. When one also factors into the equation that the WBC’s Women’s world championship in the Heavyweight division is currently vacant, the idea of Perkins fighting for a world championship sooner than later should be viewed as a very real possibility.

 

  While the future for the fighters who were able to shine on the SuperWomen undercard is unknown as of this writing as to potential future bouts, so too are questions regarding what Claressa Shields will do next. Shields, who in recent months made her intentions to venture into the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) clear by signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) MMA promotion revealed after her victory over Marie-Eve Dicaire that she intends to make her MMA debut as well as box again later this year. 

 

Although this may be viewed as a difficult task to accomplish particularly in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it’s clear that Shields wants to compete and do so often. It should also not be overlooked that for a fighter who has thus far been dominant in her sport, she is challenging herself by testing the waters in a different combat sport while maintaining her position as the focal point in the view of many for Women’s Boxing.

 

In terms of who she might fight in her next bout, a danger with a fighter being able to achieve as much as Shields has in now only eleven fights is the idea of having accomplished everything possible. It is certainly true that after fully unifying two weight divisions and becoming a three-division world champion overall that Shields’ legacy in what will be a Hall of Fame resume is secure. There are still possibilities for her in the sport and one should not view the possibility of her going back up to the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division where she also holds a world championship to attempt to unify a third weight division as unrealistic.

 

While we will have to see what the future holds for Claressa Shields outside of her venture into MMA, which may include facing world champions in lower weight classes, or maybe even venturing into the Bareknuckle realm of the sport, it’s clear that Women’s Boxing has definitely come a long way and the SuperWomen event was a win for Boxing as a whole, but more importantly, a testament to the progress that has been made for Women competing in the sport. Something that has been long overdue.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Promotional poster Courtesy of FITE TV Used with permission.

 

To watch the  SuperWomen Shields vs. Dicaire pay-per-view on demand for $29.99 download the FITE app on mobile, tablet, or connected streaming devices and Smart TVs or visit: https://www.fite.tv/watch/shields-vs-dicaire/2p8qn/ to order. For more information about FITE including schedules and list of compatible streaming devices/platforms, and Smart TVs, please visit: www.FITE.TV.

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, March 5, 2021

SuperWomen: Shields-Dicaire Weights From Flint, MI

 

 

The official weigh-in for Friday night’s SuperWomen: all-women’s Boxing pay-per-view card took place on Thursday in Flint, MI. The weights for the four bout card, which will be headlined by a ten round bout for the Undisputed Women’s Jr. Middleweight world champion between undefeated world champions Claressa Shields and Marie-Eve Dicaire and broadcast globally on digital pay-per-view by the FITE app as well as on www.FITE.TV are as follows. 

Credit: FITE 

 

*Main Event: Undisputed Women’s Jr. Middleweight world championship – 10Rds.

 

Claressa Shields (WBC/WBO world champion) 153 1/2lbs.

 

vs.

 

Marie-Eve Dicaire (IBF world champion) 153 1/2lbs.

 

(* The vacant Women’s WBA Jr. Middleweight world championship will also be on the line making this bout for the Undisputed world championship.)

 

Heavyweight – 8Rds.

 

Danielle Perkins 196 3/4lbs. vs. Monika Harrison 202 3/4lbs.

 

Bantamweight – 6Rds.

 

Marlen Esparza 117 1/4lbs. vs. Shelly Barnett 119lbs.

 

Bantamweight – 6Rds.

 

Jamie Mitchell 120lbs. vs. Noemi Bosques 119 1/2lbs.

 

Promotional Poster Courtesy of: FITE TV Used with permission.

 

 

SuperWomen: Shields vs. Dicaire takes place Tonight (Friday, March 5th) at the Dort Financial Events Center in Flint, MI. The four bout card can be seen globally on digital pay-per-view on the FITE app across mobile, tablet, connected streaming devices, and Smart TVs beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT for $29.99. (U.S. Time.) Prior to the pay-per-view broadcast, a one hour pre-show will air beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT.For more information about including schedules and compatible streaming devices and Smart TVs please visit: www.FITE.TV. To order Shields vs. Dicaire download the FITE app or click the following link: https://www.fite.tv/watch/shields-vs-dicaire/2p8qn/.

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter:www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, March 4, 2021

SuperWomen: Shields-Dicaire Battle For Jr. Middleweight Supremacy

 Perhaps one segment of the sport of Boxing that has been able to take advantage of the unprecedented circumstances of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic has been Women’s Boxing. With many of the top stars of the sport sidelined for most of 2020 due to both risks associated with the COVID-19 virus as well as for economic reasons, several of the top female fighters in the sport seized the opportunity to take the spotlight as several notable stars including undefeated Undisputed Lightweight world champion Katie Taylor, Mikaela Mayer, Teri Harper, Natasha Jonas,, Cecilia Braekhus, and Jessica McCaskill all lead the way in putting Women’s Boxing center stage. 

Credit: FITE TV

 

One fighter who has remained sidelined as the epidemic has continued is arguably the woman who has been the focal point of Women’s Boxing here in the United States over the last several years. Undefeated three-division world champion Claressa Shields. As some may recall, Shields emerged on the Boxing scene in becoming the first fighter in history Male or Female to win back to back gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Since turning professional, Shields has used that notoriety to become a three-division world champion winning world titles in the Jr. Middleweight, Middleweight, and Super-Middleweight divisions.

 

Although Shields has accomplished what many fighters struggle to accomplish in their careers in just ten professional fights including becoming an undisputed world champion in the Middleweight division in 2019, she continues to attempt to make history as she will now attempt to become an undisputed world champion in a second weight class as she will defend her unified WBC/WBO Jr. Middleweight world championship against undefeated IBF world champion Marie-Eve Dicaire on Friday, March 5th at the Dort Financial Events Center in Flint, MI. The bout, which will headline an all-women’s Boxing card promoted by Salita Promotions and broadcast globally on digital pay-per-view on FITE TV, will also be for the vacant WBA Jr. Middleweight world championship marking the first time that the World Boxing Association (WBA) has sanctioned a world championship bout in the Women’s Jr. Middleweight division. In doing so, the addition of the WBA crown makes this bout one for the undisputed world championship in the division and could give Shields the distinction of holding two undisputed world championships in two weight classes simultaneously if she can defeat Dicaire. A feat that even male boxers have not accomplished.

 

In Marie-Eve Dicaire, Shields will face a world champion with slightly more professional experience than she has with seventeen professional bouts to her credit. Dicaire won her world championship in December 2018 with a ten round unanimous decision over Chris Namus and has successfully defended her IBF crown three times since.

 

Stylistically, this fight could favor Shields as she is normally an aggressive fighter that likes to apply pressure on her opponents. Although neither fighter is known for scoring knockouts as Dicaire has not scored a stoppage in her career and Shields has only scored two in her ten career wins, Shields may also have an edge in terms of punching power. The interesting dynamic in thinking of how this fight might be fought is Dicaire is a fighter that uses lateral movement, angles, and has shown the ability to out box opponents when she is able to keep them at distance.

 

The challenge for Dicaire in this fight will be whether or not she will be able to keep Shields at a distance where she will not be able to cut the ring off and make it difficult for the IBF champion to move. Dicaire must also show that if Shields is able to get on the inside that she will be able to keep her from being able to get her punches off as Shields often throws her punches in compact combination and being able to tie her up on the inside or keep her from being able to get on the inside is something no previous opponent has been able to accomplish thus far.

 

Both world champions have the element of hand speed in their respective arsenals and it may be a question of how each fighter uses their hand speed that may be a determining factor in who has the edge in this fight. If Marie-Eve Dicaire is able to find success in keeping Shields at distance, this could prove to be a difficult test for the likely favorite, who will be fighting in front of a hometown crowd.

 

Beyond this fight being for the Undisputed Women’s Jr. Middleweight world championship, the fight between Claressa Shields and Marie-Eve Dicaire also will have the distinction of being a main event of a pay-per-view card of all women’s bouts. Although Women’s Boxing has been part of Boxing as a whole for decades, it was only in recent years that the women of the sport began to receive long overdue exposure and recognition particularly here in the United States where women’s bouts had mainly be limited to pay-per-view undercards of major bout featuring their male counterparts and very limited television exposure for the women of Boxing beyond that.

 

While internationally Women’s Boxing has regularly headlined Boxing cards featuring men’s bouts, it wasn’t until 2017 where Boxing fans were able to see Women’s bouts headline cards that were broadcast across cable, satellite, and streaming networks including Claressa Shields and Cecilia Braekhus co-headlining the final Boxing card broadcast by HBO in 2018. Sadly, the only card headlined by two women’s bouts broadcast by HBO during its forty-five year run broadcasting the sport.

 

Now, with Women’s Boxing regularly featured on digital streaming networks like DAZN, ESPN+, and combat sports centric digital networks like FITE TV, it is only a natural step forward in the overdue progression of Women’s Boxing to see a card exclusively showcasing the women of the sport. Shields-Dicaire is a historic bout for Women’s Boxing not only for what is on the line in the first undisputed world championship in the history of the Women’s Jr. Middleweight division, not only for what Shields is attempting in trying to become the first undisputed world champion in two weight classes simultaneously, but more importantly, for what it represents for the women of the sport going forward. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Promotional Poster Courtesy of: FITE TV Used with permission.



SuperWomen: Shields vs. Dicaire takes place on Friday, March 5th at the Dort Financial Events Center in Flint, MI. The five bout card can be seen globally on digital pay-per-view on the FITE app across mobile, tablet, connected streaming devices, and Smart TVs beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT for $29.99. (U.S. Time.) Prior to the pay-per-view broadcast, a one hour pre-show will air beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT.For more information about including schedules and compatible streaming devices and Smart TVs please visit: www.FITE.TV. To order Shields vs. Dicaire download the FITE app or click the following link: https://www.fite.tv/watch/shields-vs-dicaire/2p8qn/.

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter:www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison