(FEB 12) Manawatu boxer Sequita Hemingway (Ngāti Tūwharetoa /Ngāi Tūhoe) gets a second chance at Che Kenneally after a Split Decision loss last year. This time the vacant WBA Oceania Heavyweight title will be on the line.

On March 23rd at JBS Basketball Arena, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, Hemingway will get a second chance at Che Kenneally. They took each other last October at Palm Beach, Queensland for the ANBF Australasian Heavyweight title with Kenneally taking away the victory by a controversial Split Decision.

Last year, Hemingway took the fight against Kenneally on late notice. This time Hemingway has been given plenty of notice to prepare for the fight which could deliver a different outcome. On top of this, Hemingway has a weight advantage giving her more sting in her punches.

Hemingway is the current New Zealand national (Pro Box NZ version) heavyweight champion. She won the title back in August last year against Maria Hunt.

Che Kenneally is a two-division ANBF Australasian champion, winning in both the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. It is believed that Kenneally would be a good opponent for the IBF World Light Heavyweight champion Lani Daniels. A possible win for Kenneally could put her in a position to be a mandatory position for Daniels's title.

As for Hemingway, for her to get back to the world title picture, she would need to win her next four fights to be considered a possible world title challenger.

Another boxer from the same gym as Hemingway will be on the undercard.  Manawatu’s Raphael Sa'u will be taking on NRL player turned professional boxer, undefeated Tevita Pangai Jr.

Raphael Sa’u made his professional boxing debut in August last year. In both of his two professional fights, he took on Edwin Feaunati with Sa’u winning the first and drew in the second. If Sa’u gets through Pangai jr, he will be fighting again on April 6th against Elijah Mercury Leafa in Auckland.

Tevita Pangai Jr is undefeated since debuting in 2021 with three wins to his name. He so far only fights once a year against boxers who have had less than 2 fights each. In his first two fights, he won by knockout, however, he won his last fight by a majority decision. Pangai has defeated two New Zealand boxers already including Auckland-born Gerico Cecil and Christchurch-born Frank Amato.

Sequita Hemingway vs Che Kenneally for the WBA Oceania Heavyweight title will happen on the 23rd of March at JBS Basketball Arena, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

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