Two Maori Women Climb Boxing Rankings

Lani Daniels (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) and Sequita Hemingway (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe) have climbed the World Boxing Association (WBA) rankings.

Lani Daniels who was previously ranked 5th in the WBA has now climbed 3rd in the WBA Light Heavyweight rankings. The women's light heavyweight rankings are actually WBA’s version of the Heavyweight rankings. This comes after Daniels having two massive wins this year.

The first was when she defeated Sequita Hemingway by unanimous decision over six rounds in April this year in Auckland. The most recent win was against the current New Zealand amateur champion Tinta Smith for the New Zealand national (pro box nz version) Light heavyweight title over eight rounds by unanimous decision, winning her third New Zealand Professional title.

This is so far the highest ranking she has received by the WBA. She is also currently ranked 1st on Boxrec and 4th by ESPN. Currently, we are waiting for the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings which she has never been ranked on. We are expecting WBC and ESPN to be updated in two weeks. Currently, both Daniels and her train who is also her manager John Conway are working hard to set up the next fight which should happen before the end of the year. Daniels already has a time limit as she aims to retire by the time she hits 35.

Conway is getting messages from multiple managers and promoters who are interested in Daniels fighting on their cards, including the president of the WBC.

Sequita Hemingway made her World Rankings debut when she reach 6th in the WBA rankings. Hemingway received her WBA rankings because of her massive win in July 2021, when she defeated Alrie Meleisea. Meleisea at the time was ranked 3rd in WBA, 8th in the WBC and 3rd on Boxrec. Hemingway suffered her first loss recently against Lani Daniels, however, with her massive win against Meleisea last year, the major sanctioning body awarded Hemingway the world ranking.

Overall Hemingway is ranked 6th in the WBA, 4th on Boxrec and 5th with ESPN. Currently, Hemingway is taking some time to heal having suffered an injury she received during her fight with Lani Daniels. This injury has been aggravated during her Rugby League and Rugby Union days.

Background knowledge for people who want to know more about boxing. In the Professional boxing world, there are four major sanctioning bodies. World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO). These are the bodies who make up the rankings and have their own respected World titles that are equal to each other.

The International Boxing Organisation (IBO) isn't considered on par with the other major organisations, however, a large majority of legendary boxers have won their world title.

Other rankings are very notable to look out for are the Boxrec Ranking which updates every time a fight happens, ESPN rankings and the legendary Lineal title The Ring Magazine rankings.

New Zealand has had two Maori women who became world champions including the legendary Daniella Smith (Ngāpuhi) who became the first-ever IBF World champion from 2010 to 2011. The other Maori woman is actually the current IBF Super Bantamweight champion Tauranga-born Australian Cherneka Johnson (Ngāti Ranginui). The only New Zealand female to win the world title was Brazilian-born New Zealander Geovana Peres who defeated Lani Daniels for the world title in 2019. Peres retired in 2021.

There have been two other New Zealand-born boxers including Torpedo Billy Murphy, who won two world titles in 1890, and most famously Joseph Parker who held the WBO World Heavyweight title between 2016 and 2018. There have been three other New Zealand citizens who have won the title including UK-born Bob Fitzsimmons, who won multiple world titles between 1891 and 1903, American Samoan New Zealander Maselino Masoe who won the WBA World Middleweight title in 2004 and the Jimmy Thunder who won the IBO World Heavyweight title between 1994 to 1996.

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