Tauranga-born Cherneka Johnson becomes first Māori to be crowned undisputed boxing world champion
In what has been described as a 'total beatdown', Johnson beat American Shurretta Metcalf by way of TKO between the eighth and ninth rounds
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Fairweather disqualified in world title defence
Canadian teenage sensation Summer McIntosh powered away to a convincing win in the final, clocking 3min 56.26sec to finish two seconds ahead of China's Li Bingjie. American Katie Ledecky followed in third, while Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus was not present. Fairweather won the event at last year's World Championships, although the big three of Titmus, McIntosh and Ledecky did not feature on that occasion. She came within a whisker of that trio at last year's Paris Olympics, finishing an agonising 0.26sec behind bronze medallist Ledecky. Fellow New Zealander Eve Thomas also swam in the event, although missed out on a final spot, posting the 14th fasted heat time of 4min 10.10sec. Fairweather will get her chance at redemption in the 200m freestyle tomorrow, and the 800m freestyle later this week. - APL
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Claressa Shields v Lani Daniels: Champion's warning for Kiwi rival ahead of undisputed title fight
'I'm grateful and blessed to be here. I'm grateful to have a voice. I'm not as good as these fullas at talking but I think I'm better at fighting,' Daniels said. 'I'm grateful for the talk practice, because it'll prepare me for Saturday when my hands go to work. I don't have too much to say, I just want to thank everyone for making this fight and event possible.' Daniels goes into the bout with an 11-2-2 record, most recently defending her light heavyweight title last September. She faces a big step up in competition against Shields, with the bout scheduled to play out over 10 two-minute rounds. American Claressa Shields will put her undisputed heavyweight crown on the line against Kiwi Lani Daniels (inset) in Detroit this weekend. Photo / Getty Images, NZME 'I have a very sturdy opponent in front of me in Lani Daniels,' Shields said. 'I want to tell you something; I have not taken you lightly. 'People keep saying they don't know who Lani is and sad to say you guys don't know who half of the girls, who any of the girls fighting [are] because nobody works on building their brand like I do. You can't try to shoot me in the foot over that. 'I've been building my brand so I have 1.4 million followers, I think it's over 2 million worldwide, so to share that platform with Lani is very, very special. 'There's going to be more eyes than have ever been on you on Saturday; in the building, online, on DAZN, it's going to be huge... I cannot let you beat me up. I can't do it. 'There's a lot on the line here... I have prepared for you and your coach very, very hard, and me and my team know what you bring to the table. We respect you and I thank you for coming all the way over here from New Zealand, bringing your family. I look forward to sharing the ring with you.' While Daniels goes into the bout as the underdog, Shields was expecting the Kiwi to present her with a challenge. 'Everyone keeps saying that they're a little scared for you. I'm not. I'm not a little scared for you. 'I know you're going to come and you're going to bring it, but if you can bring out a different beast in me to where I have to rise to a different occasion, then I'll be scared for you,' she said. 'I'm not scared for you yet. I am ready to see how hard you're going to come out there and fight on Saturday, and... if you really want to be champion. If you do that, that's when you're going to see a great fight.' How to watch The bout will headline the card in Detroit on Sunday, which begins at midday NZT on streaming platform DAZN. According to DAZN, Shields and Daniels are estimated to make their walks to the ring about 2pm.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Northland's Lani Daniels set for world title clash with Claressa Shields
Daniels, 37, hasn't fought since September when she beat Nigerian Bolatito Oluwole in Hamilton to retain her IBF light heavyweight title. The fight with Shields will be the first time Daniels has fought outside of New Zealand. Of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi descent, affiliated with Te Orewai hapū in Te Tai Tokerau, Daniels is known for giving back to her community through free boxing training for youth in Pipiwai and in Whangārei. A trained mental health nurse, she came to that profession and to boxing after personal struggles she suffered as a teen and in her early 20s following the death of her younger brother to leukaemia. 'Boxing saved my life,' Daniels has reportedly said. 'It gave me purpose, discipline, and a way to give back.' Under the guidance of coach Dion McNabney at Nabby's Boxing Gym, Daniels became a two-time New Zealand amateur champion. Lani Daniels is draped in a korowai outside Tau Henare Marae in Pipiwai. Photo / NZME She made her professional debut in 2017, defeating fellow Northlander Trish Vaka by unanimous decision. Two months later, she beat Vaka again to claim her first national title — the NZPBA Light Heavyweight title. After a brief retirement in 2022 due to burnout, Daniels returned stronger than ever, eventually capturing both the IBF World Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight titles. This year, she received top honours at the Northland Sports Awards. She currently trains in Auckland with John Conway. Physically, she and Shields are closely matched. Shields, 30, stands at 173cm, with a 173cm reach, while Daniels is 169cm, with a 171cm reach. Shields, known as the self-proclaimed GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time), is the only boxer — male or female — to become undisputed champion in three different divisions in the four-belt era. She has never been beaten in the ring. At a recent press conference in the leadup to the fight, Shields tried to rile Daniels by saying: 'I'mma lay your ass out, and then your coach will have to pick you up. I'm not playing around.' Daniels, however, remained unfazed, reportedly saying: 'Shields is the best. That's why I want to fight her. If you want to be the best, you've got to fight the best.' Her 'walk-out' (entry) to the ring will feature footage filmed at Tau Henare Marae, showcasing her cultural pride and the support of her community. 'I carry my people with me into that ring,' Daniels said. 'Win or lose, I'm going to show the world what it means to be Māori, to be from Northland, to be a fighter.' Had the fight been scheduled for earlier this year, Daniels might have been the first Māori boxer to be crowned an undisputed world champion. However, that honour went to Cherneka Johnson, who made history in April by defeating American Shurretta Metcalf at Madison Square Garden. Despite a height disadvantage, Johnson dominated the fight, landing 75 punches to Metcalf's 21 by round eight. The bout was stopped for Metcalf's safety, and Johnson raised her arms as the first New Zealand-born and Māori boxer to unify all four major titles in any weight class. Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years' experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
