Claressa Shields continued to hold the title of the number one female middleweight fighter in the world by defeating Maricela Cornejo in Detroit on Saturday evening. The dominating theme of the bout was Shields’ right-hand punches which controlled Cornejo throughout the match.
The atmosphere was one of celebration for the Michigan middleweight as she fought in Detroit for the first time in five years. The audience paid tribute to some of the city’s legendary boxing figures before the start of the fight.
The opening two minutes of the match demonstrated why Shields was considered the favorite, as she showed her trademark hand speed, leaving Cornejo without any answers to her frequently thrown right hands.
Although Cornejo was viewed as a small step up in class as a replacement opponent for Hanna Gabriel, Shields proved to have little to worry about in the bout.
Shields was repeatedly quicker in punch exchanges and could take chances on the inside when throwing combinations. Although Cornejo attempted to keep her shape and time her own right-hand punches, it was evident that Shields would emerge victorious.
The judges’ scores confirmed that Cornejo had not won a single round, with Shields winning by a unanimous decision with a score of 100-89, 100-90, and 100-90.
Shields needs a far more challenging opponent than Cornejo and is eyeing the super-middleweight title bout between Franchon Crews Dezurn and Savannah Marshall, both of whom she has previously beaten. The match is set to take place in Manchester on July 1.
Shields expressed her desire to go to the UK and witness the fight in person to determine her next opponent. “I’m only interested in the best,” she stated.