Hawarden New Zealand-born Nicila Costello Attempts To Become The First Female Three-division Australian Champion
If Costello wins, this would rival New Zealand's Mea Motu, who holds the record for female boxers with the most New Zealand national titles in different weight divisions, with four New Zealand national titles.
Costello won her first Australian title in 2022 when she won the Australian Flyweight title against Natalie Hills. She would go on to win the Australian Super Flyweight title in 2024 against Sarah Watt, however, she would lose the title earlier this year against Brianna Harrison in March. Costello won both of her Australian national titles by TKO and KO.
Costello comes into this fight very experienced with title fights, with nine out of her eleven fights in her career being title fights. She has won three of those fights, lost five and had one fight by a draw. Her losses, however, were against highly creditable boxers, including two-time division world title challenger Michelle Preston, WIBA world title challenger Brianna Harrison, WIBA World champion Jasmine Parr and world-ranked boxer Mai Soliman.
As for her opponent, Hayley Finlayson has an amateur boxing background. She is a 2015 Australian national amateur championship silver medalist. She made her professional boxing debut in 2024. Her last fight was in April this year, where she defeated Ali Jensen. This will be her first title fight as a professional boxer.
If Costello wins this fight, her next fight is already in negotiations for later in the year for a New Zealand return. Costello has only fought once in New Zealand in her professional boxing career, which would make her New Zealand return the perfect homecoming. Being New Zealand-born, she is very popular in New Zealand, with her last fight here selling out to come see her.
Nicila Costello vs Hayley Finlayson for the Australian National Bantamweight title will happen at Mansfield Tavern, Queensland, Australia, on a Shannon O'Connell undercard. O'Connell is a four-time world title challenger. Unfortunately, this fight won't be televised in New Zealand.
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