(June 4, 2023) – American super-star Claressa Shields successfully defended the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Womens World Middleweight title on Saturday night, June 3, in Detroit, Michigan, not far from her home town Flint.
In front of a big crowd at Little Caesars Arena and broadcast live on DAZN, Shields had to adjust to taking on late replacement Maricela Cornejo from Las Vegas when original foe Hanna Gabriels failed a drugs-test just over a week ago.
But 28-year-old Shields didn’t seem fazed by the change, as she showed again that she is one of the best female boxers in the world Pound-for-Pound, winning every round on her way to a landslide unanimous decision.
Judges Waleska Roldan and Robin Taylor scored the fight 100-90, while judge John Basile scored it 100-89 for Shields, who tried to get a knockout from the start but wasn’t able to get the super-tough Cornejo out of there.
With Detroit legend Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns in attendance, the defending champion improved her professional record to 14-0 (2), while Cornejo (36), on a three-fight winning-streak coming in, falls to 16-6 (6).
On the undercard of the show presented by former WBF world champion Dmitriy Salita, now one of the leading promoters in the sport, Marlon Harrington won the vacant WBF North America Super Welterweight title beating previously undefeated Gheith Karim.
Harrington, coming off the only loss of his careers, appeared on a mission for redemption and blew away Karim in just 46 seconds of the very first round, taking his record to 9-1 (8). Karim is now 9-1 (3).
