(JAN 15) It has been confirmed that the IBF World title will be up for grabs in the Lani Daniels vs. Alrie Meleisea world title fight on May 27th at Eventfinda Stadium. This will be the first IBF World women's Heavyweight title.

The IBF title has played an important part in New Zealand's boxing history, not only for the women's division but also for Maori boxers. There have been three New Zealand women's World boxing champions in history, with two of them winning the IBF world titles, both being incredible Maori women.

The trailblazer who came first was Kaikohe, Northland boxer Daniella Smith (Ngapuhi & Ngati Kahungunu), who won the first-ever IBF World title in 2010. Smith won the IBF World Welterweight title in Germany against Jennifer Retzke. Being a defending champion, she defended it in South Africa seven months later and lost to Noni Tenge. Daniella Smith is a true trailblazer for New Zealand women's boxing.

The second person from New Zealand to win the IBF World title was Tauranga-born Australian Cherneka Johnson (Ngāti Ranginui). Johnson won the IBF World Super Bantamweight title in April 2022 in Melbourne, Australia, against Mexican boxer Melissa Esquivel. She became the first Maori boxer to successfully defend a boxing world title in October last year when defeating Susie Ramadan.

This fight is historic for many reasons, including the first World title between two New Zealand-born boxers and Maori vs Pasifika World title. If either boxer wins, it will bring its own special moment, not only because it is a major world title. One thing is for sure we are guaranteed a fourth New Zealand world women's champion.

Lani Daniels (Te Tai Tokerau, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Te Orewai) is from the small town of Pipiwai in Northland. This will be Daniels's second attempt at the world title, with the first being against retired WBO Light Heavyweight world champion Geovana Peres. A win for Daniels will make her the third Maori to win a boxing world title and the second Northland boxer to bring the World title to the region.

Alrie Meleisea (Samoa) was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, training at Red Line Combat Academy on the North Shore. Meleisea heritage is important to her, which you can see with the traditional Samoan tattoos on her body which she got at a young age. If Meleisea wins the world title, she will become the third Samoan World champion and the first-ever Samoan Women's world champion. The first two are WBA World Middleweight champion Maselino Masoe who won in 2004, and of course, WBO World Heavyweight champion Joseph Parker who won in 2016.

The World title fight will happen on the 27th of May on the North Shore, Auckland Eventfinda Stadium. The event will be promoted by Vasco Kovacevic at Red Line Combat Academy (RLCA). Tickets will be on sale over the next couple of weeks, with GA and Corporate tables available. More information to be announced in the coming weeks.

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