Maricela Cornejo has found new life in a lower weight class.
The former middleweight and super middleweight title challenger won her second straight bout at welterweight with an eight-round, decision over Kandi Wyatt. Scores 78-74, 78-74 and 79-73 were for Cornejo in their DAZN opener Friday evening from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The bout—which was the first of the CELSIUS®-sponsored Most Valuable Prospects V quadrupleheader—came just eight months after Los Angeles’ Cornejo (18-6, 7KOs) challenge for Claressa Shields’ undisputed middleweight championship. Having campaigned as high as super middleweight, the decision was made to drop down to welterweight, where she looked fluid against a fellow former multi-time title challenger.
Calgary’s Wyatt (11-6, 3KOs) fell behind early, typical of her fighting style as she is traditionally a slow starter. The veteran welterweight contender came alive in the middle rounds, as she closed the gap and regularly landed with her right hand as well as to the body.
Cornejo regained control of the fight in the sixth round and never looked back. Wyatt was game but was beaten to the punch by Cornejo, who found a home for her right uppercut and was the more effective puncher en route to her first win on U.S. soil since September 2021.
Wyatt has now lost five of her last six starts, including failed title bids versus Kali Reis, Jessica McCaskill and Natasha Jonas.
STILL TO COME
H2O Sylve (10-0, 9KOs), Long Beach, California vs. Estivan Falcao (13-2, 7KOs), Guarulhos, Brazil—10 rounds, WBC Youth Lightweight Title* (only at stake for Falcao; Sylve five pounds over the limit)
Orestes Velazquez (8-0, 7KOs), Miami via Camaguey, Cuba vs. Julian Smith (7-2, 4KOs), Country Club Hills, Illinois—10 rounds, junior welterweight
Benigno Aguilar (11-0, 4KOs), Crescent City, Florida vs. Corey Marksman (8-0, 6KOs), Orlando—8 rounds, lightweight
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox
