Tag: Claressa Shields

Claressa Shields defeated late replacement Maricela Cornejo by a shutout decision in a 10-round bout to retain her undisputed 160-pound championship.

The officials scores were 100-89, 100-90 and 100-90. Boxing Junkie also had it 100-90, 10 rounds to none.

Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) tried to score a rare knockout from the beginning, stalking Cornejo (16-6, 6 KOs) and throwing single bomb after single bomb. Many the shots landed but none hurt the durable challenger.

Cornejo managed to land a few shots but spent most of her energy to trying to avoid Shields’ hard, accurate punches.

A full report will follow shortly.

***

Junior middleweight prospect Ardreal Holmes (14-0, 5 KOs) defeated Wendy Touissant (14-2, 6 KOs) by a technical split decision in a cut-shortened bout.

Holmes got off to a strong start only to see Touissant outwork him more and more as the scheduled 10-rounder progressed.

However, in the eighth round, an accidental clash of heads caused a cut on the forehead of Touissant that ultimately prompted the referee to stop the fight at 1:54 of Round 8 and send it to the scorecards.

Two judges scored it Holmes (77-74 and 76-75) while the third had Toussaint winning (77-74). The partial eighth round was included in the scoring.

Toussaint lost a point in the fourth round for punching behind the head.

***

Claressa Shields is scheduled to defend her 160-pound titles against late replacement Maricela Cornejo on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (DAZN).

The featured bouts on the card begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The main event will take place later in show.

Boxing Junkie will post the results of the main event and other featured bouts immediately after they end. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and analysis – will follow on separate posts the day of the fight and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

[lawrence-related id=37596,37593,37536,37527]

Claressa Shields defeated late replacement Maricela Cornejo by a shutout decision in a 10-round bout to retain her undisputed 160-pound championship.

The officials scores were 100-89, 100-90 and 100-90. Boxing Junkie also had it 100-90, 10 rounds to none.

Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) tried to score a rare knockout from the beginning, stalking Cornejo (16-6, 6 KOs) and throwing single bomb after single bomb. Many the shots landed but none hurt the durable challenger.

Cornejo managed to land a few shots but spent most of her energy to trying to avoid Shields’ hard, accurate punches.

A full report will follow shortly.

***

Junior middleweight prospect Ardreal Holmes (14-0, 5 KOs) defeated Wendy Touissant (14-2, 6 KOs) by a technical split decision in a cut-shortened bout.

Holmes got off to a strong start only to see Touissant outwork him more and more as the scheduled 10-rounder progressed.

However, in the eighth round, an accidental clash of heads caused a cut on the forehead of Touissant that ultimately prompted the referee to stop the fight at 1:54 of Round 8 and send it to the scorecards.

Two judges scored it Holmes (77-74 and 76-75) while the third had Toussaint winning (77-74). The partial eighth round was included in the scoring.

Toussaint lost a point in the fourth round for punching behind the head.

***

Claressa Shields is scheduled to defend her 160-pound titles against late replacement Maricela Cornejo on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (DAZN).

The featured bouts on the card begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The main event will take place later in show.

Boxing Junkie will post the results of the main event and other featured bouts immediately after they end. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and analysis – will follow on separate posts the day of the fight and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

[lawrence-related id=37596,37593,37536,37527]

Claressa Shields is the well-paid headliner in a significant boxing show at a major venue on international television. And it seems completely normal.

Yes, women’s boxing is progressing.

“Boxing is changing,” said Shields, who will defend her 160-pound titles against Maricela Cornejo on Saturday in Detroit (DAZN). “To be having this fight here in front of thousands of fans in Detroit, with the GWOAT in the main event, we don’t get too many of these opportunities.

“I’m just happy and excited about this fight. I’m looking forward to putting on a show and showing that I’m the greatest once again.”

The fight will take place at Little Caesars Arena, the 20,000-seat home of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings. It has never hosted a professional boxing, which arguably makes Saturday’s event historic.

Shields, from Flint, Michigan, about an hour due north, considers it a homecoming. She’s gratified to bring big-time boxing back to a one-time hotbed in the sport.

“People in Detroit are ready to celebrate,” she said. “The city is already celebrating because it’s a big moment for Detroit. … When I got the call about fighting at Little Caesars Arena, it felt like there was a slim chance we’d get to fight here.

“They offered a lot of money to fight again in the U.K., but I wanted to bring my titles here.”

Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) was originally scheduled to fight Hanna Gabriels but Gabriels was removed from the card after testing positive for a banned substance.

Cornejo (16-5, 6 KOs) agreed to step in about a week and a half ago. The 36-year-old, who lives and trains in Los Angeles, has lost decisions in three title challenges, once against 160-pounder Kali Reis and twice to 168-pound champ Franchon Crews Dezurn.

However, Shields, who had expressed interest in facing Cornejo in the past, said the WBO’s No. 1 contender has the credentials to be in a big fight.

“I’m facing a younger, taller and more savvy opponent in Maricela Cornejo than I was in Hanna Gabriels,” Shields said. “I want to thank Maricela for accepting this challenge and coming here. I know that she’s always in shape. It’s gonna be a real throwdown in Motown. …

“I know she said she wants to go out there and dance, but you’re gonna be dancing by yourself because I came to fight.”

Cornejo understands the significance of her opportunity.

“Claressa has done so much for the sport of boxing and everyone in this sport is trying to do our part,” said the challenger, who had been training for another fight when she got the call.

“Our responsibility is just to make a difference in the sport, and that’s what we’re trying to do. She needs a good dance partner to do that. When they called, I said I’m ready to dance.

“Being an underdog doesn’t affect me at all. I’m gonna go put some money on myself. I knew I’d be the underdog. She’s got the titles, so I know what I have to do.”

The only guaranteed winners, it seems, are women’s boxing and Detroit.

[lawrence-related id=37593,37536,37527,33430]

Claressa Shields is the well-paid headliner in a significant boxing show at a major venue on international television. And it seems completely normal.

Yes, women’s boxing is progressing.

“Boxing is changing,” said Shields, who will defend her 160-pound titles against Maricela Cornejo on Saturday in Detroit (DAZN). “To be having this fight here in front of thousands of fans in Detroit, with the GWOAT in the main event, we don’t get too many of these opportunities.

“I’m just happy and excited about this fight. I’m looking forward to putting on a show and showing that I’m the greatest once again.”

The fight will take place at Little Caesars Arena, the 20,000-seat home of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings. It has never hosted a professional boxing, which arguably makes Saturday’s event historic.

Shields, from Flint, Michigan, about an hour due north, considers it a homecoming. She’s gratified to bring big-time boxing back to a one-time hotbed in the sport.

“People in Detroit are ready to celebrate,” she said. “The city is already celebrating because it’s a big moment for Detroit. … When I got the call about fighting at Little Caesars Arena, it felt like there was a slim chance we’d get to fight here.

“They offered a lot of money to fight again in the U.K., but I wanted to bring my titles here.”

Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) was originally scheduled to fight Hanna Gabriels but Gabriels was removed from the card after testing positive for a banned substance.

Cornejo (16-5, 6 KOs) agreed to step in about a week and a half ago. The 36-year-old, who lives and trains in Los Angeles, has lost decisions in three title challenges, once against 160-pounder Kali Reis and twice to 168-pound champ Franchon Crews Dezurn.

However, Shields, who had expressed interest in facing Cornejo in the past, said the WBO’s No. 1 contender has the credentials to be in a big fight.

“I’m facing a younger, taller and more savvy opponent in Maricela Cornejo than I was in Hanna Gabriels,” Shields said. “I want to thank Maricela for accepting this challenge and coming here. I know that she’s always in shape. It’s gonna be a real throwdown in Motown. …

“I know she said she wants to go out there and dance, but you’re gonna be dancing by yourself because I came to fight.”

Cornejo understands the significance of her opportunity.

“Claressa has done so much for the sport of boxing and everyone in this sport is trying to do our part,” said the challenger, who had been training for another fight when she got the call.

“Our responsibility is just to make a difference in the sport, and that’s what we’re trying to do. She needs a good dance partner to do that. When they called, I said I’m ready to dance.

“Being an underdog doesn’t affect me at all. I’m gonna go put some money on myself. I knew I’d be the underdog. She’s got the titles, so I know what I have to do.”

The only guaranteed winners, it seems, are women’s boxing and Detroit.

[lawrence-related id=37593,37536,37527,33430]

Claressa Shields, the undisputed queen of women’s boxing, returns to the ring against Maricela Cornejo on Saturday night in Detroit.

CLARESSA SHIELDS (13-0, 2 KOS)
VS. MARICELA CORNEJO (16-5, 6 KOS)

• When: Saturday, June 3
• Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
• TV/Stream: DAZN
• Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
• At stake: Shields’ undisputed championship
• Odds: Shields 34-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
• Also on the card: Ardreal Holmes vs. Wendy Toussaint, junior middleweights
• Prediction: Shields UD
• Background: The queen of women’s boxing returns to the ring after arguably her most important victory, a unanimous decision over the only woman to defeat her – Savannah Marshall – last October. She had been scheduled to fight Hanna Gabriels on Saturday but Gabriels was pulled from the card after she tested positive for a banned substance. Cornejo agreed to step in on Thursday, although she had been on Shields’ list of desired opponents for some time. Shields is considered by many to be the best female fighter pound-for-pound, particularly after rival Katie Taylor’s loss to Chantelle Cameron on May 20. The only flaw in her record is a lack of knockouts, which is something the 28-year-old Michigander said she has worked on in the gym. Cornejo is a 36-year-old who lives and trains in Los Angeles. The WBO’s No. 1 contender has lost decisions in three title challenges, once against 160-pounder Kali Reis and twice to 168-pound champ Franchon Crews Dezurn. Cornejo has won three consecutive fights since losing a decision to Alma Ibarra in March 2021. She has never been stopped.

[lawrence-related id=37536,37527,33430]

Claressa Shields, the undisputed queen of women’s boxing, returns to the ring against Maricela Cornejo on Saturday night in Detroit.

CLARESSA SHIELDS (13-0, 2 KOS)
VS. MARICELA CORNEJO (16-5, 6 KOS)

• When: Saturday, June 3
• Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
• TV/Stream: DAZN
• Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
• At stake: Shields’ undisputed championship
• Odds: Shields 34-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
• Also on the card: Ardreal Holmes vs. Wendy Toussaint, junior middleweights
• Prediction: Shields UD
• Background: The queen of women’s boxing returns to the ring after arguably her most important victory, a unanimous decision over the only woman to defeat her – Savannah Marshall – last October. She had been scheduled to fight Hanna Gabriels on Saturday but Gabriels was pulled from the card after she tested positive for a banned substance. Cornejo agreed to step in on Thursday, although she had been on Shields’ list of desired opponents for some time. Shields is considered by many to be the best female fighter pound-for-pound, particularly after rival Katie Taylor’s loss to Chantelle Cameron on May 20. The only flaw in her record is a lack of knockouts, which is something the 28-year-old Michigander said she has worked on in the gym. Cornejo is a 36-year-old who lives and trains in Los Angeles. The WBO’s No. 1 contender has lost decisions in three title challenges, once against 160-pounder Kali Reis and twice to 168-pound champ Franchon Crews Dezurn. Cornejo has won three consecutive fights since losing a decision to Alma Ibarra in March 2021. She has never been stopped.

[lawrence-related id=37536,37527,33430]