Claressa Shields coasts past Maricela Cornejo to defend undisputed crown

Claressa Shields successfully defended her undisputed middleweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo on Saturday night in the first boxing card at Little Caesars Arena.

Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) with a score of 100-89 on one card and 100-90 on the other two.

“You saw the best of me tonight,” she said. “The only thing I could have done better than I did tonight was get a knockout, and I think I would have knocked a lot of girls out with the punches I landed. Maricela is smart and she’s tough.”

Shields has won two Olympic gold medals and professional titles at super welterweight (154lbs), middleweight (160lbs) and super middleweight (168lbs).

Cornejo (16-6) hasn’t beaten an opponent with a winning record in more than four years.

“You’ve created a movement in women’s boxing, and you really are the GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time),” she said. “After fighting you, I’m ready to go back to 154 pounds or even 147.”

Cornejo gave Shields some trouble in the early rounds with a solid jab and movement away from Shields’ right hand. However, she couldn’t generate enough power to keep the champion from coming forward.

Shields opened a cut over Cornejo’s right eye in the fifth round and hurt her with a series of combinations in the seventh. A straight right sent Cornejo into the ropes, but the round ended before Shields could finish her.

Cornejo tired in the final rounds, but was able to fend the champion off to make it to the final bell.

Shields didn’t rule out returning to MMA. She had two fights in 2021, winning one and losing the other.

“I have some decisions to make going forward,” Shields said. “I tend to focus on boxing, because that’s what I’m best at, but I don’t have any problem doing MMA. I think