Many aspiring actresses are willing to fight for roles on stage and screen.

But how many would volunteer to strap on the gloves and take a punch? And how many would enjoy it?

Fresh off of getting laid off from her day job while trying to break into the cutthroat entertainment industry, Grandview’s Maricela Cornejo signed up for 10 sessions at Hollywood’s famed Wild Card Boxing gym.

She thought it might help her drop a few pounds before her big break, or allow her to stand out more in casting calls with dozens of other aspiring actresses. 

But what started as something of a lark grew into a full-time profession. Cornejo, who was born in Prosser and played volleyball for Al Rogers at Yakima Valley College, is 19-7 with seven knockouts in her pro boxing career and is returning to the ring after a year’s hiatus to co-headline Friday’s bouts presented by Roy Jones Championship Boxing at Legends Casino in Toppenish. 

“I thought I would literally fight my way through Hollywood,” Cornejo, who has earned the nickname “La Diva,” said. “I just fell in love with the sport.”

Though her acting career never quite got in gear — she did appear with Eric Roberts and Deion Sanders in the 2013 comedy “White T” — success came quickly in the ring. In her fifth pro fight, she won the World Boxing Council’s International Super Middleweight title. She then fought for the WBC World Middleweight title in New Zealand, losing in a split decision, and reached four other title matches between 2018 and 2024, including a shot at the undisputed world Middle Weight title in 2023. She fought for the WBC Interim World Super Welterweight crown in her most recent match last August.

Cornejo and husband Albert Ochoa, a fellow pro boxer who made headlines in 2017 for escorting Kylie Jenner to prom, welcomed Ocean — their first child— in the spring. That meant lots of time away from training for Cornejo, and extra effort to get back in fighting shape.

Shields Cornejo Boxing

Maricela Cornejo throws a left to Claressa Shields during a middleweight boxing bout Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Carlos Osorio

She stopped going to the gym at four months, taking walks in her Las Vegas neighborhood but otherwise “trying to enjoy” her pregnancy. Eight weeks postpartum, Cornejo returned to the gym. 

“I had to start from the ground up,” she said. “To run a mile, holy crap, it was a lot. I just showed up every day, it was tiring and it hurt so much. But every day got me a little closer.”

For the last month or so, the 5-foot-10 Cornejo has been training in the Lower Valley. With her mom in Sunnyside and lots of family in the Valley, it was how she could balance training and motherhood and she worked her way back to the ring.

Five days a week, Cornejo goes on morning runs followed by afternoon training sessions, sparring three times a week, and strength training in the evenings. On Saturdays, she takes it easy and only goes for a run. And that’s all while on inconsistent sleep while waking up for middle-of-the-night feedings.

When she’s not working on fitness, the 2005 Grandview graduate has enjoyed the the slower pace of spending time with family in the her most extended visit home in years. She expects a large turnout Friday, joking that the first 100 tickets sold for the fights all went to her family members. The match is her family’s first chance to see her box in person after years of group gatherings to watch the broadcasts of her matches.

“I’d always get the pictures of the fight parties they’d throw,” she said. “I didn’t realize how excited they would be; it brings a huge smile to my face. It’s a huge reason why I wanted to come home.”

Ocean has become a source of motivation for Cornejo, who says her “tank is back to full because of him.” He may also inspire her to waste little time in her six-round middleweight bout with Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence, who’s is 8-8 with six knockouts. 

Ranked second in her class by the World Boxing Association, a Cornejo win Friday would mean another title shot.

“This person across the the ring is trying to take something from my baby; I have to stop that,” she said. “It’s going to be a short night for her.”

Murphy back at Legends

Co-headlining the event along with Cornejo is Selah’s Andrew Murphy, who has practically turned Legends into his own home arena. 

Murphy (10-0, 7 KOs) has won five straight matches in Toppenish, and hasn’t competed anywhere else since April 2022. He’ll face Jeremiah Sierra (4-2, 1 KO), who’s won his last four matches including a victory at Legends, in an eight-round super middleweight bout.

The night’s action is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with a live musical performance by former world champion Roy Jones Jr. Tickets are still on sale at legendscasino.com/events.