Lani Daniels vs Alrie Meleisea

Lani Daniels vs Alrie Meleisea, billed as Next World Champion is a scheduled boxing fight between Lani Daniels and Alrie Meleisea. It will take place on 27 May 2023 at Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. This fight will make history for being the first World title between two New Zealand born boxers and the first World title between Maori and Pasifika people.[1] Lani Daniels is well known for her first world title opportunity when she fought against Geovana Peres in their rematch dubbed History In The Making. Daniels three New Zealand title including the NZPBA Light Heavyweight title, Pro Box New Zealand Light Heavyweight title and Pro Box New Zealand Super Middleweight title.[2] She represents her Iwi the Ngāti Hine.[3] She is the second New Zealand Born female to be fighting for a major World title. The first being Daniella Smith, who is from the same hometown as Lani Daniels.[4] Alrie Meleisea is a New Zealand born Samoan who has won three titles in her career including the NZPBA Heavyweight title, UBF Asia Pacific title and Pro Box New Zealand title.[5][6]

Next World Champion
Date27 May 2023
VenueEventfinda Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Title(s) on the lineInugural IBF Heavyweight Championship
Tale of the tape
Boxer New ZealandMāori people Lani Daniels New ZealandSamoa Alrie Meleisea
Nickname The Smiling Assassin
Hometown Pipiwai, New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand
Pre-fight record 7–2–2 6–1–1
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA No. 2, WBO, WBC, IBF, WBO, ESPN & Boxrec No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
Three Time New Zealand Champion
ANBF Australasian Champion
Former WBO World title Challenger		 IBF, WBO, ESPN & Boxrec No. 2 Ranked Heavyweight
Two time New Zealand Champion
UBF Asia Pacific Champion

History

Background

Daniels vs Meleisea was originally scheduled to take part on the Joseph Parker vs. Junior Fa Undercard in February 2021, however, it was boxing politics that stopped this fight from happening.[7] Negotiations picked up again after Meleisea defeated Sequita Hemingway In December 2022.[8] It was confirmed on the 9th January 2023 that discussions had been happening since Christmas.[9] Shortly after the announcement, it was confirmed that the world title was set to happen for the vacant IBF World Heavyweight title.[10] Promoter Kovacevic has stated he is working on making this fight for a unification for the WBO and IBF title, however, as of January 21, IBF title was only confirmed.[11] As of result of the world title being booked, the IBF created their first World Heavyweight Women's rankings in eight years.[12]

Leading into the fight, Daniels opted to fight in a warm up fight on March 10 again Sequita Hemingway in a rematch for the historical ANBF Heavyweight title.[13] It is considered a big risk as a loss for Daniels could affectively cancel the world title on the fight.[14] Meleisea has gone straight into training camp instead for the fight against Daniels.[15] On March 10th, Daniels won her fight against Sequita Hemingway by unanimous decision, winning the ANBF Australasian Heavyweight title.[16]

Fight card
Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight 175 + lbs. New ZealandMāori people Lani Daniels vs. New ZealandSamoa Alrie Meleisea 10 Note 1
Super Flyweight 115 lbs. New ZealandUnited Kingdom Michelle Preston vs. TBA 10
Light Heavyweight 175 lbs. New Zealand Michael Helg vs. New Zealand Ricaia Warren 4
Heavyweight 200+ lbs. New Zealand Matt Mataika vs. Australia Ben Sosoli 4
Cruiserweight 200 lbs. New Zealand Ioane Auvaa vs. New Zealand Antz Amouta 4
Heavyweight 200+ lbs. New Zealand Joseph Sefo vs. New ZealandUnited States Lui Te'o 4

^Note 1 For the vacant IBF World Heavyweight title

Fight Details

The event is promoted by Vasco Kovačević who is also Meleisea's Trainer and Manager.[17] This is the first televised event that Kovačević has put on.

Broadcasting

On the 3rd of February it was announced that the world title would be broadcast in New Zealand with Sky Sports on Sky TV.[18] On the 22nd of February, it was announced that FITE was interested in broadcasting the event internationally.[19]

International broadcasters
Country Broadcaster
 New ZealandSky Sports Pop Up

References
  1. "Lani Daniels: IBF confirms world title fight for 'humble' fighter from Pīpīwai". Te Ao Maori. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  2. "Lani Daniels wins third career boxing title". Te Ao Maori. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  3. "Daniels-Peres rematch for World Boxing Title". Maori TV. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  4. "Peres, Daniels to battle it out for Women's WBO strap". World Boxing News. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  5. "Alrie Meleisea defeats Nailini Helu at ABA Stadium". World Boxing News. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  6. "Heavyweight boxer Alrie Meleisea training for IBF world title: "I'm betting on me."". TPPlus. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  7. "Lani Daniels going the extra mile to be a world champion". Stuff NZ. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  8. "Hemingway misses out on NZ title with loss to Meleisea". Stuff NZ. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. "Lani Daniels: Talks underway for potential historic world title fight". Te Ao Maori. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  10. "IBF World title confirmed for Lani Daniels vs Alrie Meleisea". Waatea News. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  11. "Lani Daniels' fight could unify two world title belts". Te Ao Maori. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  12. "Historic IBF Rankings update". Womens Boxing. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  13. "Sequita Hemingway in talks for rematch against boxer who is going for world title". Women Boxing. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  14. "Boxers get nominated for local indigenous awards". Women Boxing. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  15. "Alrie Meleisea and Lani Daniels 'fight of a lifetime'". Te Ao Maori. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  16. "Lani Daniels claims historic title in victory over Sequita Hemingway". Te Ao Maori. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  17. "IBF title fight: Te Arani Moana Daniels gets her shot at a world heavyweight title". New Zealand Herald. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  18. "Northland boxer Lani Daniels' world title fight to be televised". Northern Advocate. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  19. "Lani Daniels and Alrie Meleisea the first-ever Maori vs Pasifika world title fight". Ring News 24. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.