Of Ng\u0101ti Hine and Ng\u0101puhi descent, affiliated with Te Orewai hap\u016b in Te Tai Tokerau, Daniels is known for giving back to her community through free boxing training for youth in Pipiwai and in Whang\u0101rei.<\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cBoxing saved my life,\u201d Daniels has reportedly said. \u201cIt gave me purpose, discipline, and a way to give back.\u201d<\/p>\n Under the guidance of coach Dion McNabney at Nabby\u2019s Boxing Gym, Daniels became a two-time New Zealand amateur champion.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 the NZPBA Light Heavyweight title. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n This year, she received top honours at the Northland Sports Awards<\/a>. <\/p>\n She currently trains in Auckland with John Conway.<\/p>\n Physically, she and Shields are closely matched. Shields, 30, stands at 173cm, with a 173cm reach, while Daniels is 169cm, with a 171cm reach. <\/p>\n Shields, known as the self-proclaimed GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time)<\/a>, is the only boxer \u2014 male or female \u2014 to become undisputed champion in three different divisions in the four-belt era. She has never been beaten in the ring.<\/p>\n At a recent press conference in the leadup to the fight, Shields tried to rile Daniels by saying: \u201cI\u2019mma lay your ass out, and then your coach will have to pick you up. I\u2019m not playing around.\u201d<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Daniels, however, remained unfazed, reportedly saying: \u201cShields is the best. That\u2019s why I want to fight her. If you want to be the best, you\u2019ve got to fight the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Her \u201cwalk-out\u201d (entry) to the ring will feature footage filmed at Tau Henare Marae, showcasing her cultural pride and the support of her community.<\/p>\n \u201cI carry my people with me into that ring,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cWin or lose, I\u2019m going to show the world what it means to be M\u0101ori, to be from Northland, to be a fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n Had the fight been scheduled for earlier this year, Daniels might have been the first M\u0101ori 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite a height disadvantage, Johnson dominated the fight, landing 75 punches to Metcalf\u2019s 21 by round eight. The bout was stopped for Metcalf\u2019s safety, and Johnson raised her arms as the first New Zealand-born and M\u0101ori boxer to unify all four major titles in any weight class.<\/p>\n Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years\u2019 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.<\/p>\nLani Daniels is draped in a korowai outside Tau Henare Marae in Pipiwai. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n