It was a very hot, muggy fight night in Auckland and everyone was feeling it, but it did not affect the fighters as they took the ring.
Yama needed this fight, as she has become one of the most avoided female boxers in Australia and New Zealand.
This made getting this fight across the line a major hassle for promoter Terry Tuteru. However, on two weeks’ notice, he found Harris, a kickboxer-turned-boxer from the South Island.
With the win in the bag, Yama now has her sights on the next BX-9 event in Auckland, on December 13.
However, the BX-9 promoter is struggling to find an opponent for her and has started looking for fighters across Asia and Africa.
If all goes to plan and an opponent is found, Yama will fight for a major regional title.
The other fight that took place earlier this month was Allahna Tuteru vs Sequita Hemingway for the historical WIBA world heavyweight title.
The WIBA heavyweight title had not been fought for since 2014.
Tuteru defeated Hemingway by corner retirement.
Now New Zealand has three WIBA World champions in history, with Wellington’s Gentiane Lupi being the first in 2015 in the Super Bantamweight division, Auckland’s Emma Nesbitt in 2025 in the Light Flyweight division and now Auckland’s Allahna Tuteru in the Heavyweight division.
Meanwhile, Tuteru’s older brother Nathaneal defeated Joe Ageli in a very close, nail-biting split decision.
Many people who saw the fight believed Ageli won, including professional boxer Julius Long, who said Ageli won every round.
Nathaneal now plans to take time off from combat sports to focus on family, as he expects his first child soon.
Benjamin Watt is a retired boxing judge and New Zealand boxing writer with a decade of experience. Watt has also been BoxRec’s New Zealand record-keeper since 2014.