Kaikohe's newest world champion is celebrating her boxing title win at her Auckland gym this friday.
Daniella Smith, 38, claimed the title with a unanimous points decision in the 10-round bout against Jennifer Retzke, handing her 25-year-old German opponent her first defeat in 11 professional fights.
It's unsure when the new champ
will return home to the Mid North to celebrate.
Smith dropped Retzke to the canvas in the ninth round on the way to a points victory in every round of the contest. It was Smith's 11th fight since turning professional in 2005, taking her record to 10 wins and one loss.
Based at Boxing Alley in Parnell, Smith is trained by Monty Betham but the former Kiwi rugby league player couldn't accompany the New Zealand welterweight champion to Germany for her first world title fight.
Smith's father George stepped in to act as his daughter's trainer in Berlin.
``It's an amazing achievement by Daniella, she has to work so hard to make her fights happen, she's an amazing trainer and to be winning a world title at the age of 38 is unbelievable,'' Betham said.
Betham said Smith's last fight against Argentina's Gabriela Zapata in Auckland was almost solely funded by Daniella and her supporters. ``She won that fight, also unanimously, and that opened doors to more than one offer of a bout overseas,'' he said.
``Ultimately we made the decision to accept the offer from Retzke and now Daniella has a world title to celebrate.''
