Claressa Shields, the undisputed queen of boxing, returns to the ring against Maricela Cornejo on Saturday night in Detroit.
CLARESSA SHEET (13-0, 2 KOS)
WITH. MARICELA CORNEJO (first6-56 KOS)
- When: Saturday, June 3
- Time: 9pm ET / 6pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
- Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
- television/stream: DAZN
- Assignment: Middleweight (160 pounds)
- threatened: Shields’ undisputed championship
- the odds: Favorite Shield 34-1 (average of many stores)
- Also on the card: Ardreal Holmes vs. Wendy Toussaint, junior middleweight
- Guess: Shield UD
- Background: The boxing queen returns to the ring after her arguably most important victory, a unanimous decision through the only woman to beat her – Savannah Marshall – last October. She was scheduled to play Hanna Gabriels on Saturday but Gabriels was withdrawn after she tested positive for a banned substance. Cornejo agreed to join on Thursday, even though she’s been on Shields’ wish list for some time. Shields is considered by many to be the best female heavyweight boxer, especially after rival Katie Taylor. lost to Chantelle Cameron on May 20. The only flaw in her record is the lack of knockouts, which is something Michigander, 28, said she has been working out in the gym. Cornejo is a 36-year-old who lives and trains in Los Angeles. The WBO No 1 contender lost decisively in three title challenges, once to 160-pound Kali Reis and twice to 168-pound champion Franchon Crews Dezurn. Cornejo has won three games in a row since losing a decisive match against Alma Ibarra in March 2021. She has never stopped.
