The first Quebec boxer world champion chose her health and officially ended her professional career on Wednesday, on this International Women’s Rights Day.
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Marie-Eve Dicaire therefore withdraws after suffering a loss in a unification clash against Natasha Jonas on November 12 in Manchester, England.
“My last fight is not a defeat, she philosophized during a press conference at Place Ville Marie in Montreal. I am in full health despite 30 years of combat sports. I have minor sores, but nothing major that will prevent me from fully enjoying my new life. It’s a big win. »
The 36-year-old retiree has 50 boxing fights among amateurs, 20 among professionals and more than 500 in karate behind the tie.
She did not want to experience the duel too much, especially after having attended those of Adonis Stevenson and Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, who died following a fight.
Victory or defeat, the shock against Jonas was the last of Dicaire’s career (18-2, 1 K.-O.). Back home, however, she hesitated.
“I’m still well ranked. But today, I am at peace. There is no longer a gray area, there will be no turning back, ”assured the one who had doubts until mid-February.
Symbolic date
The athlete from Saint-Eustache did not choose the date of March 8 by chance to announce his retirement from sport. In 2016, she signed her first contract with the Yvon Michel Group during this day.
Despite an IBF belt and the medal of the National Assembly, it is the title of pioneer of women’s boxing in Quebec that makes her the proudest.
“I gave the girls a taste for daring, to go after their dream, to pursue a career even if it was going to be difficult. »
“I know that professional women’s boxing is here to stay, because there are incredible girls like Kim, Marie-Pier [Houle]Carolina [Veyre]Leila [Beaudoin]Mary [Spencer] who will take up the torch, said Dicaire, having a thought for Danielle Bouchard who was not supported by a full-time promoter between 2002 and 2008. I leave with peace of mind. »
His legacy
According to promoter Yvon Michel, women’s boxing is in excellent health and that’s thanks to Dicaire’s legacy.
“Today, we can’t do an event without girls,” said Michel, who still had plans for his protege. When Marie-Eve arrived, male boxers said she was taking their place. At one point, someone said he was proud to be on the same card as Marie-Eve Dicaire. Today, everyone wants a place with Kim Clavel. »
An example that made Clavel smile.
“It’s really rewarding, especially after all the hard work over the past 15 years. I remember when I went to see Lucian Bute at the Bell Centre. I couldn’t imagine that a woman could be in the final. Times are changing and for the better. »
“Marie opened doors. It is a beautiful model to follow. In everything she does, she is very intense, she is 100%. When she trains, it’s at 100 miles an hour. She doesn’t do anything halfway,” added Clavel, who hopes to step back into the ring in the coming weeks.
Her trainer took pity on her
Stéphane Harnois admitted it bluntly. Initially, the coach had compassion for Marie-Eve Dicaire.
“I took pity on her,” he admitted on Wednesday. I thought she was poorly framed and deserved better. She was beaming all the time, as always. When she approached me, I told her I could give her a few hours. »
Eventually, he helped her win the IBF super welterweight belt twice, in addition to participating in two unification fights, her only two losses in the pros, against the powerful Claressa Shields and Natasha Jonas.
Unpretentious, Harnois quickly understood that he had a pearl.
“I knew you could go to a world championship from the start of your career. »
The song of the Swan
Soon, Harnois will retire as a coach. Like Dicaire, he had already planned that the fight in Manchester against Jonas would be his last with the Quebecer.
“I have a full-time job with the City of Montreal and I spent my evenings in a gym. There, in the evening, I sit in front of the TV and I find it boring! »
As for Dicaire, she shouldn’t find her new life boring. Very talkative, she loves being a speaker and participates in the podcasts The Dangerous and The Blue Pocket. Other projects are on the table…
One thing is certain, the ex-boxer will be able to go to the creamery with her son-in-law Raphaël and her daughter-in-law Livia, two teenagers aged 14 and 16 tired of eating broccoli because of her diet. She will certainly continue to receive advice from her physical trainer and spouse, Marc-André Wilson, in order to stay in shape.
” [Ce matin], I will wake up feeling relieved. I felt like I was between two chairs, it seemed like I could still step back. There, I know where I’m going, ”said Dicaire, serene.
Nostalgia
Among the most significant moments of his career, Dicaire retains two. When she walked to the ring in Manchester to the sound of Celine Dion’s The Power of the Dream, she and her team were booed by nearly 10,000 spectators.
“It was us against the rest of the world!” »
Four years earlier, that all changed when she won the NABF belt while her mother was battling cancer.
” [Mes entraîneurs] wanted to cancel, but I couldn’t do that to my mom […]. During the fight, I had blood running down my face and I said to myself: “What I saw next to what my mother saw is nothing”. »
In addition, promoter Yvon Michel confirmed that some 2,000 tickets had been sold for the fight between Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 K.-O.) and the German Michael Eifert (11-1, 4 K. -O) next Thursday at Place Bell in Laval. He hopes that the enthusiasm will grow quickly.