Boxing: NZ's Lani Daniels beaten in world title fight
Photo:
© DAZN 2025
New Zealand boxer Lani Daniels has fallen short in her bid to become the undisputed women's world heavyweight champion.
Daniels lost to Claressa Shields by unanimous decision, with the American retaining her four title belts in Detroit.
Shields outclassed the New Zealander throughout much of the contest, with Daniels not really challenging the champion until the later stages.
The American's dominance grew as the fight went on and she landed some clean shots in the middle rounds as 37-year-old Daniels tired.
Lani Daniels and Claressa Shields.
Photo:
Frank Balluff
Daniels lifted her performance and traded punches with Shields in the eighth round, but the American was never really tested as she improved her record to 17-0.
Shields said she expected Daniels to come out firing and was surprised the New Zealander started slowly.
"I thought she wanted to fight, but she didn't really engage until the last three rounds," Shields told DAZN.
"She was very tough and tricky toward the end, but I know I won every round."
Shields became a five-weight world champion when she moved up to heavyweight earlier this year and beat Danielle Perkins to unify the division.
The American is a three-weight undisputed champion, having previously held all four belts at middleweight and light-middleweight.
Shields is expected to step away from the heavyweight division and move back down in weight, but she doesn't care who she fights next.
"Anybody can get it," Shields said. "I want to make the biggest fights and the best fights."
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