Claressa Shields has to settle for shutout decision over Maricela Cornejo

Claressa Shields didn’t get her knockout but she dominated nonetheless.

The undisputed 160-pound champion defeated late replacement Maricela Cornejo by a shutout decision to retain her titles in front of her home-area fans Saturday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

The official scores were 100-89, 100-90 and 100-90. Boxing Junkie also had it 100-90, 10 rounds to none.

.@Claressashields going ALL OUT and trying to close the show

Watch #ShieldsCornejo LIVE on https://t.co/FoiaUucafv pic.twitter.com/sleRlMQZXR

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 4, 2023

Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) has been working in training camp on getting the only thing missing in her career, knockouts.

She clearly tried to score one against Cornejo (16-6, 6 KOs) from the opening bell, unleashing single bomb and after single bomb in an effort to hurt he overmatched opponent.

And many of them landed to the head of the challenger. The problem for Shields was that Cornejo has a good chin and is clever enough to survive for 10 two-minute, holding, using her feet, whatever it took.

Cornejo didn’t run the entire fight. She actually landed some nice shots here and there. However, she spent the bulk of her energy trying to keep her head attached to her body.

Shields was particularly effective when she pulled back to some degree and relied more on her boxing skills than big punches. However, it still wasn’t enough to stop Cornejo.

The No. 1 female boxer pound-for-pound seemed a bit frustrated afterward but was pleased with another dominating victory.

“I won every round like I knew I could,” she said in the ring afterward. “I pressed for the knockout. … Maricela is just tough. And she has a good right hand herself. She was very smart and sturdy when I started hitting her.

“She knew how to survive. So she did a great job.”

What’s next?

Two fighters Shields has already beaten — undisputed 168-pound champ Franchon Crews Dezurn and Savannah Marshall — are scheduled to meet on July 1 in Manchester, England.

Shields said she plans to be on hand for the fight, the idea being she could face the winner. However, she made one hting clear: The fight won’t take place in the U.K.

“I’m only interested in fighting the best,” she said. “I’ll be looking at that fight. I think I’ll go over to the U.K. and show my face. … Whoever wins, if they want to come here, I’m down for it.”