Unbeaten middleweight champion Claressa Shields put on a stellar performance as she defeated Maricela Cornejo in Detroit in front of her home crowd.
The fellow American was no match for Shields, who secured a resounding unanimous decision win on Saturday.
With scores of 100-89 on one card and 100-90 on the other two, the 28-year-old showcased her skills at the Little Caesars Arena.
Shields expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “You saw the best of me tonight, the only thing I could have done better… was get a knockout.” She believed that her powerful punches could have potentially led to knockouts against other opponents, acknowledging Cornejo’s toughness and intelligence.
Originally slated to face Hanna Gabriels, Shields had to adjust her plans when the Costa Rican tested positive for a banned substance. With just a week’s notice, Cornejo stepped in to take the bout. Shields, a two-time Olympic champion, now holds an impressive professional record of 14 wins without a loss.
Following the fight, Cornejo praised Shields, acknowledging her impact on women’s boxing. She stated, “You’ve created a movement in women’s boxing, and you really are the GWOAT [greatest woman of all time.”
The fight started off closely contested, but Shields took control in the fifth round when she opened a cut above Cornejo’s right eye. From that point on, Shields dominated the remainder of the bout.
Looking ahead, Shields expressed her desire to face Savannah Marshall or Franchon Crews-Dezurn in her next fight. Marshall, who was previously defeated by Shields in London, will challenge Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed super-middleweight world title in Manchester on July 1st.
