Unbeaten female super welterweight Claressa Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Marie-Eve Dicaire (17-1, 0 KOs) to become undisputed WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO 154lb women’s world champion on Friday night in front of 375 fans at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. Shields stalked Dicaire relentlessly in a one-sided fight. Scores were 100-90 3x. Shields was previously undisputed women’s champion at middleweight. She says she’ll now move to MMA in the summer.
“I can’t be mad about my performance,” said Shields after the bout. “She just kept elbowing and headbutting me. I tried for the knockout and I almost had it a couple times, but we’ve got two minutes and the ref not breaking it up when she’s holding me and elbowing me. I’m happy but I still wanted the knockout. I just didn’t have enough time. At the end of the day, I am the new undisputed champ at 154 and the first boxer to be undisputed champ twice.”
Shields said she was happy to have accomplished her latest piece of history in front of her family and friends in Flint, even if the pandemic meant a lot fewer fans in attendance.
“With Covid, we couldn’t have a full capacity. There are 300 here and that’s the capacity of the day, so we have a full house. We couldn’t have full capacity, but I know if we could have, we would have had 6000 people in here. I’m happy to have been able to do it here (in Flint). I started boxing here at Berston Fieldhouse at 11 years old. Never in a million years did I think I’d be on pay-per-view and fighting for an undisputed title and be one of the biggest stars in boxing. I just wanted to win an Olympic Gold medal. God has given me two Olympic medals. I have 12 championship belts now. It doesn’t feel real to say undisputed twice.”
When asked about two of her remaining rivals in boxing, fellow superstar Katie Taylor of Ireland and her one-time conqueror in the amateurs, Savannah Marshall of the UK, Shields brimmed with confidence.
“Katie Taylor is not the worry. 147 pounds is. They’d have to pay me a lot to lose my butt and go down to 147. At the end of the day, I’m a woman. I don’t have big breasts, but I got a nice butt, so come with that dough and I’ll be there. At least a million and I’ll be there.
“Savannah Marshall can’t f*** with me. Let’s keep it real. Savannah Marshall, you won a lucky decision when we were kids. Also London was hosting the Olympics. If you want to gloat about beating me 14 points to 8… come on now. And then I went on to become world champion in three different divisions and she broke. She knows she cannot and will not ever be able to f*** with me. She can come to America. I will go to the UK. We can go to Mexico. We can go anywhere, and I will f*** her up. She knows that. She’s scared of me. Savannah Marshall can get it. Tell Eddie Hearn, he came that whack-ass 250K. Tell him to come with 500K… 750K if he wants me to go to the UK and smoke his girl. Pay me.”
Shields threw 409 punches in the fight and landed 128 including 34.9% of her power punches. Dicaire threw 263 punches in return but landed just 31.
“Flint Michigan got the baddest boxer in the world!” said Shields to her fans. “We two-time undisputed. Pacquiao who? Canelo who? When someone else does what I did let me know.”
* * *
In a clash for the WBC female silver heavyweight championship, Danielle Perkins (3-0, 1 KO) scored a one-sided eight round unanimous decision over Monika Harrison (2-2, 1 KO). The 38-year-old Perkins outworked Harrison, 37, by a wide margin to win 80-72 3x. Perkins is now 2-0 vs. Harrison.
“I apologize for not getting a knockout. I swear next time I’ll come back and give it to you, Flint,” said Perkins, post-fight. “Monika made some adjustments this time. I hit her with some solid hammers and that girl stayed on her feet so kudos to her…I want to be the undisputed female heavyweight champion of the world,” continued Perkins. “I want to be the best you’ve ever seen.”
* * *
Bantamweight Jamie Mitchell (6-0-2, 4 KOs) won by fifth round TKO over Noemi Bosques (12-16-3, 2 KOs). Mercy stoppage by the referee. Time 1:49.
“I was just zoned out. I was doing whatever fit the moment,” said Mitchell, post-fight. “That’s how I got the knockout. Thanks to my coaches and thanks to Claressa Shields for putting me on this card. This is an unforgettable moment for women.”
* * *
Bantamweight Marlen Esparza (9-1, 1 KO), a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, took a one-sided six round unanimous decision over Shelly Barnett (4-4-2, 0 KOs). Scores were 60-54, 60-53, 60-53.
“We knew she was tough and bigger,” said Esparza. “I wanted someone with more weight because I never fight above 112 lbs. and I think I handled it well. I’m happy about the way everything played out. I’m happy to have been part of this event and to be working with Claressa again.”
* * *
Undefeated super middleweight Timur Kerefov (11-0, 6 KOs) won by third round TKO over Manny Woods (16-11-1, 6 KO). Bout stopped due to a cut over Woods’ left eye.
Who would buy this PPV?
So, I had no intention of buying it. Couldn’t sleep. Saw it was on, and I was kind of morbidly curious… like “how bad could this be?” It was horrible. She still punches very much like an amateur.
Wild punches by shields, just swinging for the fences
I saved my allowance and lunch money for bigger and better things. However, I was visiting a co-worker and decided to watch the fights at his place since the evening was rather stagnant. He spent his lunch money on the fights! I paid for the take-out and drinks.
I wanna see Claudia Trejo fight.
who? there is NO current pro fighter by that name
Maybe fight that MMA tranny thing on the undercard of Mayweather vs some barber in skinny jeans turned YouTube sensation while Snoop dog combs Broner’s hair and they both rap the commentary. Now that’s the recipe for a modern PPV success!
Women’s boxing is as bad as the WNBA. Just wait until the trannys get involved, then it’ll be hilariously exciting!!
The invasion into other female sports is here.
Wow! Creative statement! LOL
Hope for her sake she’s been learning other skills for mma already, she hasn’t got power to be feared so the mma girls will get in close, take her down, f$%k her over and retire her from the sport quickly
You can’t learn to grapple in 6 months. She is going to learn the hard way
You make a good point. Shields is on the confidence train ride she may sail ride into MMA like it’s a simple continuum as her current state of boxing. She better cherry-pick her MMA fights very carefully to gain experience as she may be in for a rude awakening once the right fighter engages her way too soon.
i agree 100%… first time she fights a female close to her size she will get exposed.
Smaller gloves will give her more pop, she has enough power to keep her opponent honest
What power? She can’t crack jello
Ace it doesn’t work like that. She needs to have chuck lidell type takedown defense to be able to land a keep honest punch otherwise she’s going straight to the matt.
I disagree about her power. Boxers are the most lethal with their hands and she’ll be wearing smaller gloves. A boxer’s punch has more of a dramatic effect on an MMA fighter. I do agree she better learn a great take-down defense and learn how to check kicks. She better get her grappling cardio up as well. That is a different beat. No amount of running/tredmill will prepare her for that. She has to grapple.
She will get Kos in MMA. Smaller gloves and longer rounds. Not sure why Womens boxing has 2minute rounds. Thats why there are so few Kos. The huge gloves dont help either. Women have small hands, yet they wear the same gloves as men. Makes no sense at all. That’s why womens boxing is void of entertainment value.
Four fights. Four shutouts. No knockdowns. One dubious stoppage and three decisions. Typical boring women’s boxing. Awful.
Her attitude is so bizarre given her level of opposition. She still fights very amateurish. She doesn’t sit on her punches at all.
Colby, good observation! I agree, Shields limits herself on power due to her lack of committing her whole body into the power punches. I must point fingers at the trainers as well as it’s their job to see and correct those mistakes.
Not a fan of woman’s boxing, but Shields has been dominant. She had a big, strong, smart opponent here tonight and dominated her. I have no respect or interest in MMA, so sorry to see her venture there. Maybe there’s more money in it for her I don’t know. Whatever, I wish her the best.
Actually women’s MMA is 10x better than women’s boxing. The whole boxing infrastructure is endlessly scattered with a dog eat dog mentality. Whereas MMA operates more under one umbrella. If you ever witness it you’ll see that they incorporate at least one women’s fight in an MMA event and they listen to the fighters concerns like giving women equal time per round to their male counterpart. Unlike boxing there’s multiple ways to get a stoppage.
Shields has been dominant, but her opponent last night was nothing more than a female version of Yildrim, only she didn’t quit after 3 rounds. High guard, very few punches thrown and landed.
Shields has been dominant, but even though Decaire was a champion coming in, she performed more like a female version of Yildrim. High guard, few meaningful punches landed or even thrown. At least she didn’t quit after 3 rounds.
Ann Wolfe would have destroyed Claressa Shields!
Wolfe had some power in her arsenal! Very entertaining fighter to watch!
O God, that was a stinker. This girl has no
entertainment value. She thinks that cursing and speaking loud can win over fans. There are many other fighters that look better and give more value for your money: Katie Taylor, the girl from Costa Rica, The Puerto Rican girl and many other. Shield is boring and unbearable to watch.
You are spot on … Wolfe and Christy Martin (even though she is smaller than Shields) both would have KO’d Shields … Shields arrogance is very unattractive and I can’t imagine what she is thinking with her comment Pacquiao who and Canelo who … OUTRAGEOUS AND NOT VERY SMART … I’m interested to se the PV #’s …
If Claressa Shields does go to MMA 145 pounds is the biggest female division in the UFC right now. Can she even make that weight? If she can Amanda Nunes is the champ and I don’t see Shields beating Nunes. Bellator has Cris Cyborg and the PFL has Kayla Harrison and all would be loses for Shields!
Shields is just a foul mouthed gal who hardly anybody off the street would be familiar with, in a sport that nobody gives a shit about.
Shields fights like an amateur. GOAT, are you freaking serious? Laila and Wolf would both give this pillow puncher a real ass whoopin!
If this woman was half as good as she think she is, she would be a decent fighter, just a big mouth and very vulgar, no class.
How did Dicaire ever win a world title?
she beat alot of cleaning ladies but NEVER had a KO hhhhmmmm cherry picker herself then got cherry picked lol
Savannah Marshall will not have a problem out-boxing her.
Toothless Trex doesnt want that smoke hell she already weight bullying in fear going down in weight hahahahahaha
SHIELDS IS A GOOD FIGHTER THERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT… COULD CRISTY MARTIN HAVE BEATEN HER… I DOUBT THAT ALSO… THE FIGHT TO SEE WOULD HAVE BEEN AIL’S DAUGHTER AND SHIELDS BACK IN ALI’S HEYDAY…… FOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO SHIELDS ALL DAY LONG… SHE CAN BRAG ALL DAY LONG AS BEING THE BEST EVER… SHE DOES HAVE A POINT… THE THING IS THERE’S SUCH WEAK COMPETITION TO MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION JUST YET… PUT HER IN A CAGE I’D SAY NO BECAUSE THAT’S NOT SHIELDS SPECIALTY… SHE CLAIMS TO BE THE BEST WOMAN BOXER EVER..,. FROM WHAT I’VE SEEN IT’S KIND OF HARD TO SAY NO TO THAT AT THIS POINT… IS SHE FULL OF HERSELF??/ YES BUT IT’S HARD TO DISCLAIM HER BRAGGING WITH THAT BIG ZERO IN HER FIGHTS… FOR NOW SHE IS MY NUMBER 1….
Boxing History says Lucia Rijker is currently the GOAT followed by Laila Ali and Ann Wolfe all 3 possessed unusual power for female fighters and all 3 scored more KOs than Toothless Trex has fights lmao also currently P4P womens best is hands down the 7 weight division world champion Amanda Serrano 39-1 29KOs she has 3x the KOs as toothless has fights and she has waaaaaay more competitive divisions that she has hopped around winning world titles at against worthy opponents this is simple facts not my opinion
the Boxing experts consider Lucia Riker the GWOAT and a viscous puncher followed by Ann Wolfe and Laila Ali real KO power in those ladies fist!!!! now current days the womens P4P champion is Amanda Serrano the ONLY female fighter to be world champion in 7 weight divisions and a record of 39-1 29 KOs now look at that record people 29 real KOs not 2 ref stoppages and not 1fight of hers was “cherry picked” toothless trex being undisputed over the weakest weight divisions in boxing means absolutely nothing and her recent opponent had 0 KOs are you serious? womens boxing and its 10×2 isnt the reason it fails and the 2 minutes has not a damn thing to do with their lack of KOs women just do not in general have the muscle density but if you do find a female with KO power teasure her matter of fact her name is Amanda Serrano………
Good for her. I could not care any less. Im sure the few hundred people who were there will remember it though. Maybe. Probably not.
It’s a phenomenal achievement by Shields, of that there is no doubt. However, her statement about being the “first boxer to be undisputed champ twice” is indisputably false. She certainly is the first female boxer to be undisputed champ twice, but not the first boxer. She really ought to have heard of a chap named Evander Holyfield…
MAYBE SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FEMALE FIGHTER… SURLY SHE’S THE ONLY FEMALE FIGHTER TO HAVE DONE THAT
PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS FEMALE FIGHTER OR THAT FEMALE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED HER BECAUSE OF THEIR PUNCHING POWER… BUT I SEE NONE OF THESE SO CALLED PUNCHING POWER FEMALES WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS BACK TO BACK IF FACT NONE OF THE MEN NEITHER… SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT THIS IS HISTORY AND HISTORY CANNOT BE CHANGED… PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WELL THAT’S BECAUSE FEMALE FIGHTING IS IN ITS INFANCY AND THAT’S TRUE… BUT IF THAT’S TRUE THEN WHERE’S THE EXCUSES FOR THE MEN???
It’s surprising to her debate about who the greatest female boxer is/was. I’ve only seen a couple over the years who actually seemed to get the mechanics of a punch. None of the names mentioned have ever had a real test imo. They simply were the best of a bad lot. Shields’ isn’t truly cherry picking in the traditional sense, because there just isn’t any fruit on the trees.
As for the potential opponents mentioned:
Katie Taylor – she can definitely fight, but asking any fighter to shave 20 lbs (male or female) is insane. If Katie meets her halfway, then maybe they get it done. However, this could have a Loma vs Riggondeaux (sp?) feel to it.
The girl wo beat her in the amateurs holds no value and I’m guessing Shields is right about the scoring.
MMA – I don’t follow it closely, but I will say the female fights are far more competitive and entertaining than boxing. Additionally, like boxing, styles make the fight. If the money is better, than Shields should go try it. Holly Holm did pretty well, so I think Shields could too.
Last thought…i know many of you hate Shields for her mouth, but my guess is you wouldn’t tune in or pay attention without it. She’s self promoting as best as she can. Give her a break.
Beating someone with no knockouts ?she fought better fighters in the olympics!!!!
Congrats to the champ – champ on making history. I can’t wait to see her in MMA. She better take a few amateur fights before stepping into the UFC. Holly Holmes was previously a kickboxing champion who turned pro boxer. Shields has no martial arts experience. Boxing alone will get her hurt against an MMA fighter. BUT her hands can be an asset if she learns to check kicks and have a great take-down defense.