Cecilia Braekhus Fights Maricela Cornejo; Gabriela Fundora vs Daniela Asenjo and More News

 

By David A. Avila

LAS VEGAS-Always be ready.

Cecilia Braekhus the former undisputed welterweight world champion saw her scheduled foe drop out due to visa problems. In stepped Maricela Cornejo who just fought three weeks ago in Costa Rica.

It’s the third time that Cornejo salvaged a female fight.

After a dry spell for women bouts Golden Boy and 360 Promotions present three female fights with former world champion Cecilia Braekhus (37-2-1, 9 Kos) facing late-replacement Maricela Cornejo (19-6, 7 Kos) on Saturday Aug. 10, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. DAZN will stream the fight card.

Norway’s Braekhus was set to face Ema Kozin a rated fighter from Slovenia whose only loss was to pound for pound queen Claressa Shields. When Kozin dropped out, Cornejo stepped in.

Cornejo has built a reputation for saving shows. When Shields lost scheduled foe Hanna Gabriels due to a positive drug test, in stepped Cornejo for that show a year ago. It was carefully noted by boxing teams and promoters.

If I’m not mistaken, she also filled in to fight Franchon Crews-Dezurn at the Stubhub Center in 2019. She had lost their first encounter a year earlier and when asked to replace another fighter she quickly accepted it. The rematch proved much more entertaining and competitive than their first fight.

Cornejo has taken the boxing mantra of “always be ready” seriously.

Fighters around the world should take note.

This is Braekhus third fight at super welterweight. For 11 years the Norwegian fighter known as the “First Lady” controlled the welterweight division with 26 successful defenses. That’s domination.

It was American Kali Reis, the Emmy-nominated star of HBO’s True Detective, that first exposed vulnerability in the Norwegian fighter and knocked her down during their fight on May 2018. That fight was also important for being the first time HBO televised a female bout.

Braekhus later lost twice to Jessica McCaskill and the welterweight world championship.

Braekhus, 42, has performed much better since moving up in weight one division at 154-pound limit. She recently fought to a draw with Terri Harper in England. It’s very difficult to win a decision in the United Kingdom.

In this match Braekhus may be facing a sterner test than against the previously scheduled opponent. Cornejo has never been stopped or knocked down. Whoever faces the Washington state native can expect the fight to go the distance.

Flyweights

IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora (13-0, 6 Kos) defends the title against Chile’s Daniela Asenjo (16-3-3, 2 Kos) on the Golden Boy card in Las Vegas.

It’s a very strange match considering that Asenjo has not fought in the flyweight division in more than six years.

How can this be a world title defense?

There are plenty of flyweights that would love to face Fundora for the world title including Mexico’s Kenia Enriquez who was ranked number one by BoxRec but strangely not rated by the IBF despite being undefeated for the last 10 years.

Asenjo is rated among the top 10 flyweights by the IBF though she hasn’t fought as a flyweight since 2017 when she lost to Isis Mascarena.

The IBF should not sanction this as a world title fight.

 

WBO welterweight title fight in NYC

United Kingdom’s Sandy Ryan will defend the WBO title against Mikaela Mayer on Friday Sept. 27, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, announced Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing on Tuesday.

Ryan (7-1-1, 3 Kos) recently knocked out two-division world titlist Terri Harper and drew with former undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill. She’s anxious to prove she’s among the best pound for pound fighters in the world.

Mayer (19-2, 5 Kos) has willingly traveled to the United Kingdom to fight, but now she has an opportunity to perform in her home country. The former super featherweight world titlist is anxious to perform back in the U.S.A. Its been 28 months since she laced up in America.

“Mikaela Mayer always wants to fight the best, and Sandy Ryan is an elite welterweight. These are the two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and the winner will stake her claim as the preeminent 147-pounder,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Mima Rodriguez (2-8-2) beat Catalina de Lourdes (1-10) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Aug. 4. The lightweight fight was held in Cordoba. Also, Leonela Sanchez (20-5) beat Josefina Garcia (5-3) in four.

On Saturday Aug. 10, super lightweights Yamila Belen (18-6-1) and Aldana Pons (3-2-1) meet 10 rounds at Tortuguitas for the Argentine title.

 

Australia

Kaye Scott (3-0) defeated Macca Jean (1-2) by decision after six rounds on Thursday Aug. 1. The super welterweight fight took place in Bella Vista.

 

Colombia

Bexcy Mateus (6-0) beat Katerin Tobon (4-3-1) by decision after eight rounds on Monday July 29. The welterweight match was held at Santa Marta.

On Tuesday Aug. 6, lightweights Lira Huyke (8-5-1) and Shamara Woods (7-0-1) meet 10 rounds at Santa Marta.

 

Czech Republic

Fabiana Bytyqi (21-1-2) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Judit Hachbold (5-20) on Saturday Aug. 3. The flyweight bout took place in Usti nad Labem.

 

France

Clothilde del Ben (7-3) defeated Roxana Colmenarez (10-6-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 3. The flyweight fight was held in Garges les Gonesse.

 

Japan

Yoshie Wakasa (8-4) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Akane Fujiwara (6-4-1) on Wednesday July 31. The Japanese featherweight title fight was held in Tokyo.

 

United Kingdom

Caroline Dubois (10-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds against Maira Moneo (14-2) on Saturday Aug. 3. The IBO lightweight title fight was held in Yorkshire, England. Also, super flyweight Sylwia Doligala (4-1-2) beat Sara Orszagi (1-2) in four.

 

USA
On Tuesday Aug. 6, lightweights Margaret Whittmore (3-0) and Shaniqua Frazier (0-6) meet four rounds at Nashville, Tenn.

On Saturday Aug. 10, flyweights Gabriela Fundora (13-0) and Daniela Asenjo (16-3-3) meet 10 rounds for IBF world title in Las Vegas. Also, super welterweights Cecilia Braekhus (37-2-1) and Maricela Cornejo (19-6) meet for interim title. DAZN will stream. Also, welterweights Jenna Creason (0-0) and Kelsey Wickstrum (2-1) meet four rounds.

On Saturday Aug. 10, lightweights Maria Limon (0-3-1) and Jessie Clark (0-2) meet four rounds in Dallas, Texas.