Future corridor of famer Cecilia Braekhus. Picture by Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
LAS VEGAS – Cecilia Braekhus confronted a late opponent, which is at all times harmful within the battle sport. Regardless of the change of opponent, Braekhus discovered a solution to win.
Braekhus dropped late-sub Maricela Cornejo as soon as en path to a 10-round unanimous resolution victory on the Michelob Extremely Enviornment contained in the Mandalay Bay on Saturday. All three judges scored the bout 96-93 for Braekhus, who improved to 38-2-1, 9 knockouts.
The 42-year-old Braekhus was initially scheduled to face Ema Kozin of Slovenia, who was to defend her WBC and WBO world title belts in opposition to Braekhus, however needed to again out when she was not capable of safe a journey visa. The WBC mandated Braekhus and Cornejo battle for the vacant interim world title.
From the opening bell, Cornejo targeted her assault to the physique, throwing and touchdown proper palms to the physique. Each stood within the pocket, at occasions, every connecting with a glancing hook or cross to one another’s head.
Throughout spherical three, Cornejo did join with a left-right mixture to the pinnacle. In direction of the tip of spherical 4, Cornejo dropped to the canvas. Replays confirmed Cornejo may need misplaced her steadiness, however a proper hand Braekhus threw to Cornejo’s head did join, legitimizing the knockdown.
Breakhus might have been slower than Cornejo, however she was capable of finding openings in Cornejo’s guard by working behind a constant jab. She walked Cornejo down, mixing her assault with jabs to the pinnacle and physique. Cornejo would additionally fluctuate her offense, both throwing lead hooks or proper crosses to the pinnacle of Braekhus.
Early in spherical 10, Braekhus landed an overhand proper to the pinnacle of Cornejo. Braekhus adopted it up by throwing and touchdown a jab, adopted by a straight proper to Cornejo’s head. To her credit score, Cornejo stood her floor, buying and selling with Braekhus within the pocket. Each fighters had their moments and embraced after the bell sounded to finish the battle.
Braekhus, who resides in Bergen, Norway, final fought on October 7, preventing to a majority resolution draw in opposition to then-WBO/ WBA world titleholder Terri Harper.
The 42-year-old grew to become the undisputed champion at 147 kilos in September 2014, defeating Ivana Habazin by unanimous resolution. Braekhus grew to become the primary feminine fighter in any weight class to concurrently maintain all 4 world title belts.
Braekhus would make 10 successive defenses of the undisputed welterweight championship till she misplaced a detailed majority resolution to Jessica McCaskill in August 2022. Within the rematch 5 months later, McCaskill would win a one-sided resolution over Braekhus.
Cornejo, who now lives and trains in Las Vegas, falls to 19-7, 7 KOs. In her earlier battle on July 20, Cornejo defeated Sara Gabriel by resolution. She had gained her earlier three bouts since a one-sided loss to undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields on June 3 of final yr.
The 37-year-old twice fought Franchon Crews Dezurn, dropping each occasions by resolution. The primary battle in September 2018 was for the vacant WBC world title. Within the rematch one yr later, Dezurn efficiently defended her unified WBC and WBO world title belts.
Middleweight prospect Eric Priest of Overland Park, Kansas defeated Luka Lozo by resolution. All three judges scored the bout 100-90 for Priest, who improved to 14-0, 8 KOs.
Middleweight prospect Eric Priest. Picture by Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
The taller Priest outboxed Lozo all through many of the battle. Lozo would lead together with his head a number of occasions, drawing a verbal warning from referee Michael Ortega.
In direction of the tip of spherical seven, Priest momentarily shocked Lozo with a proper to the pinnacle, however Lozo was capable of fend Priest off of him or get him in a clinch.
Lozo, who resides in Break up, Croatia, falls to 9-3-1, 8 KOs.
In junior welterweight motion, Johnny Canas of Santa Ana, California improved to 5-0, 2 KOs, defeating Mexico’s Joseph Cruz (7-10, 3 KOs) by resolution. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Canas.
Beginner standout Jordan Fuentes of Fresno, California defeated James Mulder (0-3) of Antioch, California by unanimous resolution. Scores had been 39-37, 39-37, and 40-36 for Fuentes, who made his professional debut.
Within the opening bout of the Golden Boy Promotions card, welterweight Jennah Creason was additionally profitable in her professional debut, defeating Kelsey Wichstrum (2-2, 1 KO) of Redding, California by cut up resolution. One decide scored the bout 39-37 for Wickstrum, whereas the opposite two judges scored the bout 40-36 and 39-37 for Creason, who resides in Visalia, California.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He could be reached at [email protected]
