Quebec native Marie-Eve Dicaire is the reigning IBF female 154-pound champion, she is unbeaten, and yet she is the underdog for her fight this week.  She says she has fully prepared physically and mentally for this Friday night's unification showdown against undefeated WBC and WBO champion, Claressa Shields (10-0, 2 KOs). The fight will be broadcast live in USA on InDemand pay-per-view and streamed live on Fite.TV, and in Canada On Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV and Yoop. 

 

Dicaire (17-0), a popular French-Canadian boxer, understands and fully appreciates the significance of this fight-- in Shield's hometown of Flint, Michigan-- and what an upset victory would do for her, particularly outside her native Canada. "I allowed myself to be excited," Dicaire explained. "I know it is a significant fight, but I made sure I'm focused on the task I need to accomplish and not the outcome of the fight. My strategy is based on my skills. Where she puts her focus is up to her. On my side, I did everything I had to get ready for this fight. And I am! I've always said that boxing is a passion, and I am happy to make a living out of it," she said. But, to me, it is more than that. It is a way to inspire people, to change society's mentality. I want to achieve greatness to inspire people to dream big and this is what this fight is all about to me."

 

Last year, the two-time Olympic gold medalist Shields signed a multi-year deal with mixed-martial-arts promoter PFL. Her transition to MMA will reportedly happen later this year.  Dicaire was a world amateur champion in karate before transitioning to boxing, and she defeated five world champions. "My karate background has always been a powerful tool for me in terms of mindset and work ethic," Dicaire commented. "I was built in martial arts and I think it is what made me the strong athlete that I am now."