Boxing: Floyd Masson keen on future fight against David Nyika
Waikato boxer Floyd Masson is preparing for his fight against John Parker tomorrow – however, he has already hinted at big plans for the future.
If Masson wins the IBF Pan Pacific Cruiserweight title against Parker, he could be catapulted into the IBF cruiserweight Top 10 ranking, which would put
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NZ Herald
4 days ago
- NZ Herald
Boxing: Floyd Masson keen on future fight against David Nyika
Waikato boxer Floyd Masson will fight John Parker tomorrow. Waikato boxer Floyd Masson is preparing for his fight against John Parker tomorrow – however, he has already hinted at big plans for the future. If Masson wins the IBF Pan Pacific Cruiserweight title against Parker, he could be catapulted into the IBF cruiserweight Top 10 ranking, which would put
NZ Herald
26-07-2025
- 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.
RNZ News
24-07-2025
- RNZ News
Boxing: WBO orders negotiations for fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker
Joseph Parker. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The WBO has ordered negotiations for a bout between its interim heavyweight champion, New Zealander Joseph Parker and the unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. The ruling body said both parties have 30 days to agree terms for a mandatory defence of Usyk's title, and if they fail to do so the WBO will open a purse bid. "The minimum bid in the Heavyweight division is US$1 million... any of the parties herein may request purse bid proceedings at any time during negotiation stages," the WBO said in a statement. Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk exchange punches during their IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO World Heavyweight titles' fight. Photo:Usyk has held the WBO belt since 2021 when he won it from Anthony Joshua along with the WBA and IBF titles, and has defended it four times, also taking the WBC belt from Tyson Fury to become the unified champion. The undefeated Ukrainian vacated the IBF belt last year after opting not to face the sanctioning body's interim champion Daniel Dubois in favour of a rematch with Fury, which he won by unanimous decision in December. Usyk, 38, knocked out Dubois last weekend to regain the IBF belt and undisputed status. New Zealand's Parker won the interim WBO championship last year in a majority decision over Zhilei Zhang. He defended it in February, knocking out Martin Bakole. - Reuters
