Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields vs Maricela Cornejo fight details
Throwdown in Motown
Photos from Salita Promotions/Terrell Groggins
Undisputed Middleweight World Champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields and No.1 rated contender Maricela Cornejo will go face-to-face this weekend for all the marbles at middleweight and BBN have provided UK fight fans with all the details they need to watch the action in full.
Fight Details
Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023
Venue: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, America
Rounds: 10x2minute rounds
Titles: Shields' Undisputed Middleweight World Championship
Tickets: Tickets on sale at 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena
Promoter: The event is promoted by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents
TV & Live Stream
Undercard: The action starts on DAZN App at 2am on Sunday morning, which can be streamed via phone, tablet, PlayStation, XBox, or smart TV.
Main Event: You can watch the main card via the DAZN App from around 5pm.
Background
Boxing superstar and two-division undisputed world champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields will now face no.1 ranked middleweight contender Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo after original opponent Hanna Gabriels was withdrawn following the results of a VADA test done on May 2, 2023 as part of the WBC Clean Boxer Program.
Gabriels’ promoter Lou DiBella explained how she tested positive for clostebol, “Her dog had major abdominal surgery. She applied the medication to her dog and that’s how it got in her bloodstream.”
Michigan’s own, Shields, will live up to her promise to bring big-time boxing back to Detroit by stepping up to face the WBC, WBO and IBF #1 ranked contender Cornejo in the first-ever boxing event at Little Caesars Arena.
“I told my team to get me the best,’ said Undisputed Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields after the rematch with Gabriels fell through.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist throughout her storied amateur career, the 28-year-old Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) avenged her only amateur defeat last October when she traveled to the UK to win the WBO Middleweight Title from Savannah Marshall via unanimous decision. The Flint-native’s last fight in her home state of Michigan came in March 2021 as she bested Marie Eve Dicaire to become undisputed super welterweight world champion, her second undisputed distinction after originally unifying all the middleweight titles with a 2019 victory over then unbeaten Christina Hammer.
A native of Washington who now trains in Las Vegas under the tutelage of renowned trainer Ismael Salas, Cornejo (16-5, 6 KOs) enters this fight having won three-straight contests. She most recently fought in March as she stopped Sheila Cunha in the first round. The 36-year-old has previously challenged for world titles at middleweight and super middleweight, including a pair of close decision losses to undisputed super middleweight champion Franchon Crews Dezurn in 2018 and 2019. Cornejo’s first world title opportunity came in just her sixth professional outing, as she dropped a razor thin split-decision to Kali Reis in April 2016.
Quotes
Shields: “I’m facing a younger, taller and more savvy opponent in Maricela Cornejo than I was in Hanna Gabriels. 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. She can salsa all she wants, but I came to throw down and show my skills.
“It’s fight week and there’s not much more to say. Boxing is changing. To be having this fight here in front of thousands of fans in Detroit, with the G.W.O.A.T. 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.
“People in Detroit are ready to celebrate. The city is already celebrating because it’s a big moment for Detroit. But I’m still focused on winning the fight. It’s big for all of us, but I’m keeping my head down.
“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.”
Cornejo: “When I got the call I was getting ready for another fight, so we were coming to the end of camp anyway. This isn’t a last minute thing for me, because I’m always ready. I’m always staying in the gym. I live, eat and breathe boxing.
“I’m ready for this opportunity and there’s no excuses come Saturday night. Claressa has done so much for the sport of boxing and everyone in this sport is trying to do our part. 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.
“I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is the perfect time for me to take this fight. Some might think that it’s short notice, but I’m in tip-top shape.
“She’s coming after me, so I’m fighting fire with fire. There’s no backing down at all. It’s gonna take heart, endurance, everything and the kitchen sink. That’s the kind of fighter that Claressa is and I’m so ready for it.”
Predictions
Tim Rickson BBN Editor: “Cornejo is fit and ready to go and won't let an opportunity like this pass her by. She's experienced and confident having won three on the spin. However, she is a stand-up tall fighter and I think the higher quality and pedigree of Shields will shine through. I'm expecting a dominant performance from Shields, maybe even a stoppage if she can swarm Cornejo into submission.”
Betting Odds (Betway)
1/50 Shields
17/1 Cornejo
26/1 Draw
Running Order
Claressa Shields vs Maricela Shields
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Joseph Hicks vs Antonio Todd
Marlon Harrington vs Gheith Karim
Joshua Pagan vs Ronnell Burnett
Sarah Liegmann vs Carisse Brown
Da'Velle Smith vs Kahydlian Woods
Vernon Webber vs Fernando Rodrigo Simoes
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