May 26, 2023
Daniels ready for boxing title bid
For the first time, two Kiwi boxers will square off on Saturday night for a women’s world heavyweight title fight.
Lani Daniels from Ngāti Hine and Samoan Alrie Meleisea will battle for the vacant IBF title at the Northshore Eventfinda stadium.
It’s also an actual world title fight – with Daniels ranked number 1 by the IBF, WBO and WBC and Meleisea ranked number 2.
Boxing commentator and judge Benji Watt has tracked both fighters’ careers over the years – and says the fight will be epic.
“Alrie Meleisea says that she’s got the heart, but Lani has the movement, she’s got the jabs. Her experience kind of outweighs Alrie. The first couple of rounds will probably go towards Lani because of how she moves around her opponent. And then after that, that’s when things start to get interesting throughout the fight.
Benji Watt says Daniels is the lighter boxer and will stay the 10 rounds better, but Meleseia has fearsome power on her side.