Boxing superstar and undisputed two-division world champion Claressa Shields has upped the ante considerably and is now facing No. 1. Middleweight No. 1 fighter Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo in the main action event on Saturday June 3rd from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and broadcast live on DAZN in the US and Canada. Hanna Gabriels was originally scheduled to rematch Shields. However, based on the results of the May 2, 2023 VADA test conducted as part of the WBC Clean Boxer program, promoter Salita Promotions made the change.
GWOAT from boxing and Shields from Michigan will fulfill her promise to bring big boxing back to Detroit by taking on WBC, WBO and IBF no. No. 1 ranked Cornejo competitor in the first ever boxing event at Little Caesars Arena. The two highly competitive fighters made strong statements about their final showdown on June 3.
“I told my team to give me the best of everything,” said undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields. “Cornejo is a tall, tough, proud Mexican who is in great shape and wants to beat me. He is number one in the ranking. This is exactly what I want for my return to Detroit and my fans around the world. I’m looking forward to a great performance on June 3rd.”
“When Shields faced the Mexican in the cage, she lost. Now he’s going to lose to a Mexican in the boxing ring,” Cornejo said. “Just finished an amazing boxing camp and I’m in the best, strongest physical and mental shape of my life. My team in Vegas has sharpened me like a knife for the moment. On June 3, I will become the Undisputed Champion!”
A two-time Olympic gold medalist throughout her amateur career, 28-year-old Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) avenged her only amateur loss last October when she traveled to the UK to win the WBO middleweight title from Savannah Marshall via unanimous decision. The last fight from Flint in her home state of Michigan was in March 2021 when she defeated Marie Eve Dicaire to become the undisputed super welterweight champion of the world. .
A native of Washington who currently trains in Las Vegas under renowned trainer Ismael Salas, Cornejo (16-5, 6 KOs) comes into this fight after winning three fights in a row. She last fought in March when she defeated Sheila Cunha in the first round. The 36-year-old has fought for world middleweight and super middleweight titles before, including two close decision losses to undisputed super middleweight champion Franchon Crews Dezurn in 2018 and 2019. Cornejo’s first chance at the world title didn’t come until her sixth professional appearance, when she dropped a split decision to Kali Reis in April 2016.
“Claressy’s goal has always been to fight the best, and we’ve gone out of our way to make sure we deliver the highest contender available across an undisputed number of multiple organizations. Marcelo Cornejo, world-class middleweight,” said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “Fans watching the fight live on DAZN and those in attendance at Detroit’s big boxing return at the Little Caesars Arena will witness the highest level of professional boxing between two hungry fighters battling for the Undisputed Middleweight world crown.”
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased at 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and at the XFINITY box office in Little Caesars Arena. The event is promoted by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents.
