The final press conference was held today for Friday’s “SUPERWOMEN” PPV headlined by the 10-round 154-pound unification showdown between undefeated three-division and current WBC/WBO super welterweight champion Claressa Shields and unbeaten IBF champion Marie-Eve Dicaire at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan.
Claressa Shields: “It’s my career and I feel like people underestimate me when I speak about how great I am. But if I didn’t say how great I am, no one in this room would have ever called me great because they just don’t recognize it. Only the greats know that they’re great.
“Like Muhammad Ali. Nobody called him the greatest of all time. They actually called him the ‘Louisville Lip’ because he talked too much. If he had never said he was the greatest of all time, he would have never been considered the greatest of all time. No matter what boxer comes along, nobody can get in front of Muhammad Ali. That’s how I feel about myself.
“Muhammad Ali is the greatest of all time and Claressa Shields is second. I am the greatest woman of all time and 98% of men in the world can’t beat me.”
Marie-Eve Dicaire: “When I became a world champion, I was like is that it? Is there something more? This is when I started focusing on being an undisputed champion. Facing Claressa Shields is, for me, the opportunity of a lifetime. I worked all my life to get here. My work, my sweat and my blood got me here, so for sure I’m going to be 100% in the ring.”
I like Shields and I respect these female fighters, I just can’t seem to get in to it for some reason.
she’s great at telling us how great she is!!
Shields is in full-on Ali copy-cat mode. Not an original thought in her head. Needs to get her own personality and image a.s.a.p.
Well she’s done more for women’s boxing and is The Greatest Female Boxer of all times TBE and until someone breaks that record she’ll be the Greatest Female Boxer of all times And she’s American her Anscesters were here before Columbus arrived
What in the world does the woman’s ancestry (race) have to with the topic? Surely you aren’t suggesting that a boxer’s ethnicity has anything at all to do with his or her achievements in the ring. Those who are shallow enough to believe such tripe are …..
Shields is riding on the confidence train since she is on a roll winning. However, women’s boxing is a growing trend and her level and selection of opposition can be limited at times. Indirectly, this makes her the “star” of her group since she is a good fighter. Oh well, that’s how the cookie crumbles and life happens.
Shields says Ali is the greatest and she’s number 2. Well, she certainly isn’t short of confidence. Unfortunately, some of the competition in women’s boxing is so bad that dominating a bad group doesn’t prove a lot. She’s certainly talented, but it feels like the better combat fighters among women are MMA fighters. If she wants universal respect, she may need to go that direction. Until then, she’s just beating women nobody has ever heard of.
Shields said she was going into MMA so we will see how great she is.
Dicaire is 17-0 with zero knockouts and is 34 years of age.
Dicaire having a 17-0 record with no stoppages? Quite unusual!
And would probably need a knockout to win in her opponents home town.
Damn she is full of herself.
In reality the number of heavyweights in history that could beat Ali were they in his era are legion. the crop of heavyweights were good, but he lost to subpar opponents that would make the top 5 now at best. Her fat mouth is only being used as a money maker for people who want to see her lose.
I see things somewhat differently. An argument can be made that Ali was at least near the top of the list making up the greatest heavyweight champions of all time. I don’t see him as the top dog, but rather Joe Louis. But there are others who were truly up there in the ranking of elite heavyweight champions. Marciano has his own unique place in the list for the obvious reason that he was never defeated — which is, regardless of how you slice it down, a tremendous achievement. What he may have lacked in pure boxing skills, he compensated for it with an indomitable determination to never lose to an opponent — even when behind on points. He was unacquainted with the word fatigue in the most most grueling of his fights. Larry Holmes was virtually unbeatable in his prime, and dominated his opponents — which wasn’t the case with Ali or Marciano. They both had all-out wars that were closely competitive. Lennox Lewis had great boxing skills that few could match; and the Klitschko brothers dominated the heavyweight division for eight or nine years. All these guys, in my opinion, are hall of fame candidates and rightly so. Who was actually the “best” amongst the best is a matter of opinion. I shared my own assessment as just that — an opinion.
Randy Hershey: Interesting read, your view, thanks. The thing about Ali I guess was his persona, and then he fought everyone, and some of them multiple times. As did most fighters in those days. In their prime I rate Larry Holmes as the most well rounded heavyweight fighter. Recon he would win in an all out ‘in prime’ heavyweight contest.
Your point about Holmes is correct. However, here’s the dilemma one encounters when comparing the greats with greats: all of those top champions were exactly that — proven champions. Their skills, heart, chin, condition, and determination forged every one of them into who they were as champion boxers. While many boxers made it to the top, and won the title, it only marks first phase of the process of determining their place in history. It’s simply not enough to BECOME champion — (which is a very tough achievement in itself), but it’s what one has done on the way there, and what he does after being crowned that best defines the man. This underscores Marciano’s unblemished career. But even losses can’t prohibit a boxer from becoming an all-time great. Ali, Holmes, Leonard, L. Lewis, the Klitschko’s, Robinson and Pep, etc., all had losses, but are still recognized as Hall of Fame boxers. In their era and prime, Louis, Marciano, Ali, Holmes, Lewis, and the Klitschko’s were all nearly undefeatable. (and neither Floyd Mayweather nor Joe Calzage were ever defeated — which underscores their greatness). So I guess it simply comes down to who one likes best. My personal favorite, though definitely not the greatest, was Juan Manuel Marquez. His first fight with Pacquiao is the best fight that I’ve ever watched (which fight I believe Marquez won).
Would be better for her if Christy Martin, Lucia Ryker and Lala Ali were around today.
Really? Christy Martin always evaded Lucia and was the darling of the judges. And Ali exhausted all excuses rather than fight Ann Wolff. I would keep Lucia and add Wolff; two fighters that were avoided by most.
women boxing is a joke, not even close to ufc competition
Shields absolutely has to talk just to get coverage. Even in this uber PC Era we’re living in she still isn’t getting paid, because women’s boxing just isn’t competitive at this point. Everyone on this site commenting are hardcore fans and I doubt any of us will drop a dime on this PPV. Quality sells and this just falls way short.
As for Dicaire’s KOs or lack there of, the 2 minute rounds do a great job of preventing stoppages. Unfortunately, that’s one of the reasons people aren’t tuning in.
You are good, great? We will see and you can’t beat men, lady.
Fighting for equal pay as Men’s boxing!!! Yeah right buddy; good look with that one!!! You first have to make money to demand it!!!