Gala on December 17th | Marie-Eve Dicaire believes she has won “a first battle”

The fight is only Friday, but already, Marie-Eve Dicaire believes to have won “a first battle” against Cynthia Lozano.

“The battle of communications, intimidation, weighings,” explains the pugilist from Quebec. This famous gimmick which is after all important. ”

The talkative Marie-Eve Dicaire came to Wednesday’s press conference in a room at the Intercontinental Hotel, in downtown Montreal, with a smile on her ears.

The contrast was striking, especially in the face-to-face photo with his opponent from Monterrey, Mexico.

Dicaire even allowed himself to throw a few words in Spanish at Lozano, as the two were sitting a few yards apart on the same table.

“I told him that the belt was going to stay in Quebec,” says Dicaire, doing his own translation.

It was in response to Lozano, who had advanced a few moments earlier that she would leave with the title on Friday at the Bell Center. The two boxers will compete there for the IBF super-mid-middleweight world championship.

This brawl will take place in the semifinals of Artur Beterbiev, who puts his IBF and WBC light heavyweight titles at stake against Marcus Browne.

“She’s not the most talkative girl,” says Dicaire of Lozano. But we see it with Artur. He’s not the most comfortable guy, but on the other hand, in a ring he is frankly at ease. ”

“I will have to remain vigilant in this fight,” she concedes.

Lozano wears a mask and sweater bearing the image of the Punisher, a bloodthirsty character seeking revenge from the Marvel Universe. When asked after the press conference what this logo means to her, she responds through an interpreter that “it’s just to [son] taste “.

Asked if it will be a challenge for her to fight for the first time outside Mexico, she only answers that she wants to “give everything”.

Not talkative, as you were told. But she is minimally more talkative when the time comes to comment on her preparation against Marie-Eve Dicaire.

“Dicaire already knows how to lose, so it’s a big advantage,” she says, referring to the defeat of the Quebecer against Claressa Shields, last March.

The rise of women’s boxing

Although the IBF and WBC light heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev (16-0-0, 16 KOs) and Marcus Browne (24-1-0, 16 KOs) either headlining this “prestigious” gala, dixit Yvon Michel, women’s boxing should have a great time on Friday.

“Artur is the champion with 100% knockout, and I’m lucky to be in the semifinals of this event,” rejoices Marie-Eve Dicaire.

Obviously, the injury of Kim Clavel, who was initially scheduled to fight in a mid-fly world championship bout on Friday, put a damper on the big celebration that was planned.

“Of course, it would have been a great evening for women’s boxing and for Quebec boxing in general, agrees Dicaire. […] I think it’s going to be over for Kim. ”

“More and more, we will be involved in major fights,” she adds. We will be able to seek more substantial scholarships. We are making a difference in society more and more. People are more inclined to consume women’s boxing, they follow our fights carefully. ”

“The future is very bright for women’s boxing. ”

Marcus Browne “in trouble”

“I’m tired of talking. I want to fight. Marcus Browne’s wish will soon be granted.

In the meantime, the one who sees himself as a “difficult customer” (tough customer) had to do battle with the media and the presence of his opponent on Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in my means,” adds the American based in Staten Island, New York.

It is because Beterbiev is considered the favorite. But that does not change his preparation, according to his trainer Marc Ramsay.

“It’s never personal or a matter of name,” he says. We want to go there for the performance, we want to move forward. There are specific things about Marcus Browne that you have to take into account, tactically, strategically and technically, but it comes down to that. ”

Ramsay says he carefully studied his foal’s antagonist.

“In the art of war, it’s always a good thing to know your opponent well. To respect him in his strengths, to know his weaknesses well and to attack him at the right time. ”

This will be Browne’s first fight outside of the United States. But that’s not something Marc Ramsay and the Beterbiev clan intend to take advantage of.

“We’re really focusing on what Artur can bring to this fight, not what kind of mess Marcus Browne is already in. ”