Bohachuk-Ortiz undercard report: Cecilia Braekhus defeats Maricela Cornejo

LAS VEGAS – Cecilia Braekhus faced a late opponent, which is always dangerous in the fight game. Despite the enemy's change, Braekhus found a way to win.

Braekhus dropped the late Maricela Cornejo once en route to a 10-round unanimous decision at the Michelob Ultra Arena inside Mandalay Bay on Saturday. All three judges scored 96-93 for Braekhus, who reached 38-2-1, 9 wins.

The 42-year-old Braekhus was scheduled to face Slovenia's Ema Kozin, who was to defend her WBC and WBO belts against Braekhus, but had to pull out when she couldn't get a travel visa. The WBC authorized Braekhus and Cornejo to fight for the vacant interim world title.

From the opening bell, Cornejo focused on his attack to the body, throwing and landing right hands to the body. Both stood in the pocket, at times, each connecting with a jab hook or landing on the other's head.

In the third round, Cornejo connected with a left combination to the head. Late in the fourth round, Cornejo went down to the canvas. Replays indicated that Cornejo may have lost his balance, but a right hand that Braekhus threw to Cornejo's head connected, allowing for the knockdown.

Breakhus may have been slower than Cornejo, but he was able to find holes in Cornejo's guard by working behind a consistent jab. He took Cornejo down, combining his attacks with jabs to the head and body. Cornejo would change his offense again, either throwing lead hooks or right crosses to the head of Braekhus.

Early in the 10th round, Braekhus landed a right to the head of Cornejo. Braekhus followed it up with a throw and jab, followed by a straight right to Cornejo's head. To his credit, Cornejo stood up for himself, trading with Braekhus in the pocket. Both fighters had their moments and embraced after the bell rang to end the fight.

Braekhus, who lives in Bergen, Norway, last fought on October 7, fighting a multiple decision against then WBO/WBA title holder Terri Harper.

The 42-year-old became the undisputed 147-pound champion in September 2014, defeating Ivana Habazin by unanimous decision. Braekhus became the first female fighter in any weight class to simultaneously hold all four world title belts.

Braekhus would make 10 consecutive defenses of the undisputed welterweight title until losing a majority decision to Jessica McCaskill in August 2022. In a rematch five months later, McCaskill would win a unanimous decision over Braekhus.

Cornejo, who now lives and trains in Las Vegas, falls to 19-7, 7 KOs. In her last fight on July 20, Cornejo defeated Sara Gabriel by decision. She had won her last three fights since a one-sided loss to untitled middleweight champion Claressa Shields on June 3 last year.

The 37-year-old fought twice against Franchon Crews Dezurn, losing both times by decision. The first fight in September 2018 was for the vacant WBC world title. In a rematch a year later, Dezurn successfully defended his WBC and WBO world titles.

Middleweight prospect Eric Priest of Overland Park, Kansas, defeated Luka Lozo by decision. All three judges scored it 100-90 for Priest, who is 14-0, 8 KOs.

Middleweight prospect Eric Priest. Photo by Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

The tall Priest boxed Lozo for much of the fight. Lozo headed several times, drawing a verbal warning from referee Michael Ortega.

Towards the end of the seventh round, Priest briefly surprised Lozo with a right to the head, but Lozo was able to either kick Priest out of him or clinch him.

Lozo, who lives in Split, Croatia, falls to 9-3-1, 8 KOs.

In junior welterweight action, Johnny Canas of Santa Ana, California improved to 5-0, 2 KOs, defeating Mexico's Joseph Cruz (7-10, 3 KOs) by decision. All three judges scored 40-36 in favor of Canas.

Freshman standout Jordan Fuentes of Fresno, California defeated James Mulder (0-3) of Antioch, California by unanimous decision. The scores were 39-37, 39-37, and 40-36 for Fuentes, who was making his professional debut.

In the first bout of the Golden Boy Promotions card, welterweight Jennah Creason was also successful in her debut, defeating Kelsey Wichstrum (2-2, 1 KO) of Redding, California by split decision. One judge scored Wickstrum 39-37, while two other judges scored it 40-36 and 39-37 for Creason, who lives in Visalia, California.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has handled boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. They can be reached at [email protected]

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