Maricela Cornejo Scores Multiple Knockdowns in Playa del Carmen

By David A. Avila

Middleweight contender Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo didn’t need six scheduled rounds as she routed Claudia Ramirez and floored the Mexican native several times to win by knockout on Saturday.

Cornejo (11-2, 4 KOs) grabbed her second consecutive knockout with a blistering attack against Mexico’s Ramirez (1-3) at the Oasis Hotel in Playa del Carmen. The Southern California based contender left no doubt.

Early on Cornejo dropped Ramirez in the first round. In the second round Ramirez visited the canvas twice more and was nearly stopped for good, but she somehow survived.

“She came in southpaw so I did what I had to do and adapt to that,” said Cornejo. “She hit me with a good body shot. I used a right hand followed by the hook.”

Ramirez, who resides in Aguascalientes, Mexico, had fought as low as welterweight and recently as a heavyweight. As a middleweight she was over-matched by Cornejo who fought for the middleweight world title against Kali Reis in 2016 and lost a close fight by split decision. On Saturday, the difference in talent was obvious.

Cornejo battered Ramirez and forced the fight to be stopped in the third round. Right hands were the weapons of choice in ending the fight.

“I’m ready for more,” said Cornejo who is trained by Joel Diaz in Indio, California. “Let’s get some good action in the U.S. for the fans.”

Because of the Mexican-American fighter’s ability to fight at the middleweight or super middleweight divisions, her possibilities against the numerous contenders makes her an inviting match up. Then of course, there’s the former super middleweight champion Claressa Shields who has a date against Costa Rica’s Hanna Gabriels on June 22 in a middleweight showdown.

The super middleweight and middleweight division are heating up with challenges.

Since moving training camp to the desert area with the Diaz brothers, the Washington native Cornejo has become an even more aggressive and accurate puncher. The third round knockout of Ramirez followed a four-round destruction of Lisa Garland this past March in Costa Mesa, California.

Cornejo, 31, is more than ready for any of the world titleholders or contenders.

“I’m ready for whoever,” said Cornejo who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. “I’m happy with a lot of things. I expect to fight for the title before the end of the year.”

There are a lot of choices.

(Photo by Nancy Rodriguez)