Claressa Shields Dominates Cornejo As Ardreal Holmes Jr Receives A Gift Decision
Undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields (14-0, 3KO) easily retained the titles against replacement challenger Maricela Cornejo (16-5, 6KO).
It was an easy fight to call as Shields came forward stalking Cornejo, who fought off the back foot the entire bout. Fighting in front of the hometown crowd, the undisputed champion went right-hand crazy early in the contest by landing some bombs flush on the face of Cornejo.
Shields got comfortable as the fight continued. She came forward with her hands down hoping to bait Cornejo into an exchange before ripping off a double left hook combination.
The Mexican replacement had one moment in the fight with a right hand. However, she quickly got overwhelmed by the work-rate of Shields. When it was all said and done, the judges’ scorecards were 100-90, 100-90, and 100-89 in favor of Shields.
After the fight, she showed interest in fighting the winner of undisputed super middleweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn vs Savannah Marshall on July 1.
ARDREAL HOLMES JR PICKS UP A GIFT VICTORY OVER WENDY TOUSSAINT
In the junior middleweight division, Ardreal Holmes Jr (14-0, 5KO) got a gift split decision over Wendy Toussaint (14-2, 6KO).
Toussaint came ready to fight as he got under the long arms of the hometown fighter with constant pressure. The Haitian took advantage of the non-chalant attitude of Holmes by punching in bunches like a buzzsaw.
Toussaint was deducted one point for hitting on top of the head. Nonetheless, he remained determined and kept up the attack, forcing the taller Holmes against the ropes the entire fight. In round eight, Toussaint suffered a bad cut on the forehead by way of an accidental headbutt that ultimately resulted in the referee stopping the fight and sending it to the judges.
One judge had it 77-74 for Toussaint as two saw it 77-74 and 76-75 in favor of Holmes. 3Kings Boxing scored it 78-73 for Toussaint. This was a complete robbery in favor of the hometown fighter, who was getting booed by the fans.
