Top women’s boxer Shields gets No. 2 contender

DETROIT — Claressa Shields has a new opponent for her marquee fight in the Motor City.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and women’s middleweight champion is now scheduled to face contender Maricela Cornejo on June 3 at Little Caesars Arena.

Shields was scheduled to box Hanna Gabriels, but the Costa Rican was removed from the card on Thursday due to results from a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test earlier this month.

Gabriels (21-2-1, 12 KOs) put Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) on the mat before losing to her in a 2018 match at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.

The 36-year-old Cornejo, who is from Prosser, Washington, is ranked No. 3 by ESPN among contenders in the 160-pound division after winning three straight fights that improved her record to 16-5 with six knockouts.

“I told my team to get me the best,” the 28-year-old Shields said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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