Maricela Cornejo stepped into the breach after news of original title challenger Hanna Gabriels’ positive drugs test broke last Thursday. The 36-year-old (16-5, 6 KOs) may have three world title defeats to her name, but despite the situation is ‘excited for the world to see Mari 2.0’ tonight. How will she fare this time?
Timing: Shields defends her 160lb titles tonight vs. Cornejo
Claressa Shields (c) vs. Maricela Cornejo for undisputed middleweight titles
Live from Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, United States
Main event ringwalks slated for roughly 4am Sunday UK time
- Since losing three in a four-fight stretch against Alma Ibarra and a two-bout series with undisputed super-middleweight champion Franchon Crews Dezurn, Cornejo has won three straight for the first time since 2018
- 36-year-old disregards old fight footage, is completely different now: “I know what kind of fighter Claressa is, but me too – no doubt in my ability with this new team, the strength and confidence they installed in me.”
- Shields: “Cornejo was pretty green at the beginning when they [her and FCD] fought. She has gotten a lot better over time and that’s why I’m not taking her lightly. 5’10, 36, come up short and she’s coming to win.”
- Champion reveals she’s in talks with PFL to make another MMA run with the promotion soon, having enjoyed her experience despite losing a split decision vs. Abigail Montes (October 2021) during her second outing
It’s not a Savannah Marshall rematch like many were calling for, nor is original opponent Hanna Gabriels stepping opposite the undisputed middleweight champion after her positive drugs test was announced days before fight week.
“The real victim in this situation is Hanna – she hasn’t had a payday in [25] months and now, out of a big fight. Her dog had major abdominal surgery, she applied the medication and that’s how it got in her bloodstream. As soon as she found out that she shouldn’t have touched the medication, she stopped.
If I’m wrong, analyse the amounts and show me the amounts in her system proving she was cycling, microdosing or whatever.”
- Gabriels’ promoter Lou DiBella on why Hanna Gabriels tested positive for clostebol, failing a VADA test administered May 2
While circumstances have changed and the proposed rematch – Shields beat Gabriels back in 2018 – is suddenly off the table for now, these conditions won’t matter much to her, as the assignment remains the same: win convincingly.
Having begun her career at super-middleweight, winning world titles there before moving down to clean out the 160lb division once before, Shields prepares for her third consecutive outing at the weight without many true contenders right now.
It might not have been a devastating knockout like many wanted, but nonetheless a punishing performance saw Ema Kozin (21-0-1) beaten for the first time in the Slovenian’s career on the Eubank-Williams undercard last February.
Eight months and an unprecedented cancellation later, Shields went the distance but was again a convincing winner against the woman many tipped to dethrone her: Marshall. Avenging a defeat from their time as amateurs, revenge was sweet.
The heavy-handed 32-year-old is set to make her return headlining a Manchester card on July 1 against undisputed super-middleweight titlist Franchon Crews-Dezurn (8-1), whose only loss came against yours truly.
When you assess the landscape of women’s boxing, lacking quality depth which is only exacerbated in the higher weight classes, it’s easy to understand why two-time Olympic champion Shields wants to challenge herself in another discipline.
First though before she assesses those options, there’s business to attend to.
Picture source: Stephanie Trapp, quotes via BoxingScene.com
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