Boxing: Lani Daniels secures fight against undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields

Lani Daniels. Photo / NZ Herald.

Kiwi boxer Lani Daniels has the chance to create history after securing a fight against undisputed women’s heavyweight world champion Claressa Shields in Detroit on July 27.

Daniels has been preparing to face Tongan-born Nailini Helu in Taupō, but after that bout was cancelled, attention quickly turned to Shields, who is regarded as one of the biggest names in women’s boxing and holds the nickname Gwoat – greatest woman of all time – in boxing.

Shields, an American, holds a 16-0 boxing record and a 2-1 record in professional MMA fights. She also won two Olympic gold medals.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lani Daniels Boxer (@lanijack77)

During her career, the 30-year-old has won world titles in five weight divisions and become an undisputed world champion in three, including the heavyweight division after beating Danielle Perkins earlier this year to unify the WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC belts.

If successful, Daniels would become the first New Zealander in the modern era to be a unified or undisputed champion.

Hailing from Whangārei, Daniels holds an 11-2-2 record and hasn’t fought since September, when she beat Nigerian Bolatito Oluwole in Hamilton to retain her IBF light heavyweight title.

It will be the first time Daniels has fought outside of New Zealand.

In March, Daniels took home the supreme award and sportswoman of the year title at the Northland Sports Awards.

Daniels began her boxing journey in Hamilton when she trained out of Nabbys Gym with Dion McNabney. She now trains in Auckland with John Conway.

Conway and Daniels previously talked about taking on Shields in 2023.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.