Reigning undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields once again proved why she is considered by many to be the greatest women’s boxer ever, defending her title over Maricela Cornejo.
Claressa Shields Remains Undisputed Champion
Behind a dominating performance, Claressa Shields defended her undisputed middleweight boxing title in front of family and friends this past weekend.
Shields scored a decision victory over Maricela Cornejo live on DAZN from Detroit, Michigan and the Little Caesars Arena. The Michigan native swept the scorecards to remain WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and WBF women’s middleweight champion.
5 Boxing Title Fights To See This June
“I feel great,” Shields said. “I was landing my shots. I won every round like I knew I could. I went for the knockout how many times this fight? Maricela is tough. She did a great job. Height doesn’t matter and power doesn’t matter either. It’s all about the skills and will and heart, and I always have more than the other girls.
“Stay smart and not get hit with her big right hand. Hit bigger to the body and check her to the head. I knew I could win. Straight right for the money. When I would hit her harder, she would take off. I led off with the right too many times, so I will work on that when we get back to the gym.
“Maricela is super tough. She was in shape and able to take the shots and able to get away from them. It was a great fight. I can’t wait to go home and watch it and see what I can work on.”
Despite the loss, Cornejo was confident in her preparation and skills. She took the fight with Shields on short notice.
“I’m good. I felt fine,” Cornejo said. “Obviously there is so much more I could work on. I want to see the fight again and see the mistakes that I’ve done just to improve on. I think I held my ground and I know I caught her with some good shots and I just need to work on much more to be able to continue those rights I know I landed on her.
“I’m not happy with the loss, I’m just disappointed. I need to just watch it. It’s intense the way she comes forward. I would have done better being more assertive going forward and not going straight back. That’s something I’ve worked on a lot.”
Co-Main Event Stopped Early
The co-main event between Ardreal Holmes Jr. and Wendy Toussaint was cut short when an ugly cut on the forehead of Toussaint from an accidental headbutt forced an eight-round technical decision.
Fighting for the USBA super welterweight championship, Toussaint came out blazing and seldom took his foot off the accelerator. The fast pace seemed to trouble the patient Holmes, who rarely matched the Haitian New Yorker’s work rate. Toussaint’s faster hands and combination punching seemed to lock up Holmes’ output in most rounds.
The intriguing duel came to an end at 1:54 in round eight when the southpaw Holmes and orthodox Toussaint conked heads, sending blood cascading down Toussaint’s face. Referee Gerard White initially allowed the carnage to continue, but a few seconds later, the need for a stoppage was clear.
A chorus of boos greeted the judge’s decision of 77-74 and 76-75 for Holmes against one card of 77-74 favoring Toussaint.
“I was expecting a tough fight. Just wasn’t in the shape we wanted to be in, but no excuses. I got the job done,” Holmes said. “I felt like I didn’t catch my second wind until the seventh or eighth round. That’s when I felt like the fight was really changing. I felt like I took the earlier rounds and he started coming on late.”
Joseph Hicks Remains Unbeaten
In the televised opener, former national amateur champion Joseph “Sug” Hicks fought his way to a careful eight-round unanimous decision over journeyman slickster Antonio Todd.
Marlon Harrington claimed the WBF Intercontinental super welterweight belt with a knockout of Gheith Mohammed just 46 seconds into the first round. Joshua James Pagan bested Ronnell Burnett, Sarah Liegmann downed Carisse Brown and Da’velle Smith finished K.J. Woods.
Claressa Shields Vs. Maricela Cornejo Highlights
