(MAY 5) Lani Daniels has stated on Maori TV that Win or Lose, her fight against Alrie Meleisea for the first-ever IBF World Heavyweight title could be the last fight of her career.

On the 5th of May, Lani Daniels and Alrie Meleisea arrived with their teams to sit in a ceremony at the Orakei Marae to recognise the IBF World title belt to arrive in New Zealand. This also acknowledged the first Maori World champion, Daniella Smith, who paved the way for New Zealand boxers. In an interview with Maori Television, Lani Daniels acknowledged that this could be her retirement fight regardless of whether she won or lost the vacant world title. However, if the money were right, she would consider continuing her career as a world champion boxer. But right now, the focus is on her fight against Meleisea.

Lani Daniels had a credible amateur boxing career before making her professional boxing debut in 2017. She has won three New Zealand Professional boxing titles and an Australasian Heavyweight title in her professional career. She is a former world title contender after she fought Geovana Peres in 2019. She is currently ranked 1st across the board in all the world's boxing-sanctioning bodies. Winning this world title will make her the fourth Maori world champion, behind Daniella Smith, Cherneka Johnson and Mea Motu.

Alrie Meleisea, who represents Samoa in this fight, was born and raised in Auckland. Both boxers will represent Pipiwai in multiple ways, as Lani Daniels lives in Pipiwai and Alrie Meleisea has family residing in the same area. Meleisea plans to continue her career, hopefully as a world champion. She began her professional boxing career in 2016, becoming a two-time New Zealand heavyweight champion and UBF Asia Pacific heavyweight title. Meleisea is ranked second across the board in all the world's boxing-sanctioning bodies.

This World title fight is between the first and second ranked boxers of the heavyweight world. The winner will be a true World Heavyweight Champion. This is the first time a world title has been contested between two New Zealand-born boxers and between a Maori and Pasifika boxer.

This event will be broadcast on Sky Sports Pop-Up Channel in New Zealand and on PPV with Fite.TV internationally. This week, the broadcast agreement was officially signed for international broadcasting rights to Fite TV. Fite TV is well known for broadcasting boxers, including Jake Paul, Errol Spence Jr, Ryan Garcia, Deontay Wilder and more.

Two exciting fights will be on the fight card, including an international fight between New Zealander Michelle Preston vs Mexican Jaqueline Mucio Munoz and the massive national fight between Ricaia Warren and Mickey Helg. More fights will be announced in the coming days.

 #          #           #          #

	It's our pleasure to provide some of the top news in boxing on this site for no cost,  but (if you feel like it) you can say "Hi" and buy us a coffee here....     https://www.buymeacoffee.com/WBAN
	2023 Upcoming International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Event - two-days - October 6-7th, 2023 - Night of the Stars" Induction Ceremony - IWBHF Tickets

WBAN / IWBHF
WBAN Instagram
WBAN Facebook

WBAN / IWBHF WEBSITES
www.womensboxing.org
www.womenboxingrecords.com
www.wban2012.com
www.wbanmember.com
www.floridaboxing.com
www.iwbhf.com
www.wban.tv
WBAN's Group Facebook