Hamilton boxer Sheilla Yama moves to welterweight to face Nailini Helu at BX-9 Auckland

Hamilton boxer Sheilla Yama has finally found an opponent.

The long search for an opponent for Hamilton boxer Sheilla Yama is finally over as she moves up to the welterweight division (66.6 kg).

Yama is scheduled to fight Auckland boxer Nailini Helu on March 28, as part of a BX-9 event in Auckland.

Yama, who made her pro debut in 2024, is ranked ninth in the WBA, 15th on Boxrec and 19th in the WBC.

Helu is entering her 10th year in professional boxing.

She began as a heavyweight in 2016 and has since fought some of the best in the world, including two-division world champion Lani Daniels.

Helu is also a two-time South Pacific (PBCNZ version) super middleweight champion and a three-time New Zealand amateur national champion.

In the rankings, she has peaked at fifth on BoxRec in the super middleweight rankings, and sixth in the IBF light heavyweight rankings.

She was scheduled to fight Daniels again in April 2025, for the IBF world light heavyweight title, however, the fight was cancelled by the promoter due to venue issues.

Helu has been interested in fighting Yama since December, but it took significant negotiations to make the fight happen, including agreeing on a weight division and ensuring there is enough time for Helu to make weight.

Helu generally fights between 76kg and 69kg, but for the upcoming fight she will come down to 66kg.

Yama generally fights at 63 kg, but will be coming up a weight division.

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The fight is a battle of the Pacific, as Helu was born in Tonga and Yama in Papua New Guinea. Both now live in New Zealand.

The fight is also significant because Helu’s trainer Lolo Heimuli used to train Yama’s trainer and co-manager, Cairo George.

George said the Helu v Yama fight was “one of the best female fights that can be made”.

The fight will be contested over six rounds.

“I’m very familiar with Nailini as well, [as] she’s trained by my former trainer and so I know she will be training hard and well.”

If Yama wins this fight, she will be set up for a major international title fight at another BX-9 event in May.

Yama v Helu will take place in Auckland, at a venue yet to be announced.

Also confirmed on this card are two MMA fighters who are trying boxing, with Australian Raam Didumo taking on Wellington’s Feargus Gordon.

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.