The Brief History of New Zealand women’s boxing by Benjamin Watt

New Zealand women’s boxing has played an important part in New Zealand’s sports history. They certainly have made their mark worldwide, especially from a small country. Here is a brief history of New Zealand Women’s boxing.

Disclaimer: This doesn’t include amateur boxing.

First Women’s fight

The first women’s professional boxing fight in New Zealand happened on the 30th of March in 1997 between Wena Karaka and Debbie Grogan. Karaka won the fight by first-round knockout. Karaka would have multiple fights in the 90s before heading off to Australia for her first international fight in 1999 where she lost against Sharon Anyos for the vacant Oceania Boxing Association Female welterweight title. Karaka would fight for the WIBF World title in 2000 against defending champion, Marischa Sjauw. Karaka lost the fight by Unanimous decision.

First New Zealand title

On the 9th of August 2002, Karaka would have the last professional fight of her career when she fought for the first-ever New Zealand national title against Sue Glassey. This was Glassey’s second fight after she won the vacant South Pacific women’s light middleweight title against Rain Mako in July 2001. Glassey won the fight against Karaka by Disqualification. It is unknown what was the reason for the DQ, (Personal note: I have seen the fight but the video of the fight has been lost since). Karaka would retire from boxing with a record of 2 wins 3 losses one draw.

First Televised fight

On the 31st of March 2005, Daniella Smith would make her professional boxing debut against New Zealand and South Pacific Champion Sue Glassey. The fight was on the David Tua vs Talmadge Griffis undercard. The event was televised in New Zealand on TVOne and Internationally, especially in the USA. It is unknown if the women’s fight was televised but it was the first time if it was that women boxing from New Zealand were showcased on TV. Smith won the fight on points. Smith has multiple fights on TV throughout her career including the first South African female to fight as a professional boxer Sandra Almeida vs Smith. Smith would win that fight by Unanimous Decision.

First Regional title

Michelle Preston played an important part in New Zealand women’s boxing history, which is interesting as she didn’t originally start as a boxer. She was a Kickboxer. Preston made her debut as a professional boxer in 2007, and, amazingly, she is still active as a boxer today. Outside of boxing, she is a five-time World Muay Thai Champion.

Now back to boxing, Preston made her professional boxing debut in Australia when she took on Georgia Keady in February 2007. Preston won the fight by unanimous decision. She would return to boxing to fight for the first ever womens WBA PABA regional title against Edith Smith. Preston won the fight by Unanimous Decision. Preston would make more history when she fought for the first ever Womens WBC OPBF Regional title against Susie Ramadan in their fight trilogy fight in November 2008. Ramadan won that fight and all of the other trilogy fights. Preston would make more history when she fought for the first ever Women’s WBO Asia Pacific regional title against Naruemol Ubuabon in July 2010. Preston won the fight by unanimous Decision.

Preston is a true pioneer in New Zealand boxing, doing a lot of first when representing New Zealand. Even in 2022 she became the first New Zealand women to win the WBA International title. Currently she is ranked 2nd in the WBA and looking to fight for a world title soon. Preston current record is 11 wins 8 losses 1 draw.

First multiple New Zealand title

In May 2006, Daniella Smith won her first New Zealand title against Sue Glassey. This would be the last fight of Glassey career. Her last professional fight record is 2 wins 2 losses. Despite only having 4 fights, she made a big impact in New Zealand national boxing.

In December 2008, Smith won her second New Zealand title against Lisa Mauala. This was the first time a New Zealand women professional boxer won multiple New Zealand titles. This set the record for most New Zealand titles which wouldn’t be broken for another 14 years. Multiple boxers had matched the record including Geovana Peres who was the first ever LGBT New Zealand professional boxing champion and first women person to win multiple titles from different commissioning bodies. Lani Daniels was the other person to match the record becoming first women boxer to win multiple titles from multiple commissioning bodies in different weight divisions.

Mea Motu broke the 14 year record when she won her third New Zealand title in February 2022. She would set a new record when she won her fourth New Zealand title against Baby Nansen in April 2022.

First World title

On 12th of November 2010, Daniella Smith for the first ever Womens IBF World title in Germany against Jennifer Retzke. Smith won the fight by Unanimous Decision making history for the world and for New Zealand. Smith would hold the title until April 2011 when she lost it against South African Noni Tenge. Smith has accomplished a lot in her career with her getting recognized in October 2023 when she gets inducted into the International Womens Boxing Hall of Fame. Smith finishes her career with record of 13 wins 6 losses.

Gentiane Lupi

Gentiane Lupi was an important part in New Zealand womens boxing history. Just like Michelle Preston, Lupi is a Kickboxer that turned professional boxing, as well as winning a Muay Thai World title. Lupi made her professional boxing title in May 2017 she she lost in Australia against Shannon O’Connell. One of Lupi biggest fights of her career was when she fought Daniella Smith in their second fight but this time for the New Zealand Welterweight title. Lupi won both fights, but the second fight by TKO. This was Daniella Smith last fight of her career.

Lupi would have amazing fights including beating Kickboxer turn boxer Baby Nansen and winning the WIBA World title against in May 2015 against Tanwarat Saengiamjit. She would have a lot of tough fights when she lost against Ronica Jeffrey for the WBC Silver title and lost by TKO against Deanha Hobbs. Lupi would make history when she became the first person to win the first ever WBA womens Oceania title against Nurshahidah Roslie in Singapore. Lupi would have occasional fights every couple years, winning fights against Karen Te Ruki Pasene in 2019 and Ariane Nicholson in 2021. Lupi current record in 7 wins 3 losses 1 draw.

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is one of the most historical venues in the world where everyone wants to at least once fight at the historic venue. There has been a few New Zealand boxers that have fought at MSG but only one female boxer from New Zealand have fought there.

Baby Nansen made her professional boxing debut in October 2014. She has had a lot of tough fights in her career including Gentiane Lupi in 2015 (which they have fought four times across kickboxing and boxing with two wins each), Melissa St Vil in April 2016 for the WBC Silver title and against Rebecca Jennings for the New Zealand title which ended in controversy. Unfortunately a rematch never happened as that was the last fight for Rebecca Jennings.

You can read the controversy here: https://www.womenboxing.com/NEWS2017/news052117new-zealand.htm

In September 2017, Nansen won her New zealand title against Quinita Hati. One year later, Nansen got the biggest opportunity of her career when she got to fight at Madison Square Garden against Mikaela Mayer. Nansen would lose the fight but it was an impressive perfomance from Nansen. Nansen would have more tough fights against Deanha Hobbs in December 2018.

Nansen would win her second professional boxing title in October 2020 when she won the South Pacific title against Karen Te Ruki Pasene. Nansen last fought April 2022 when she lost against Mea Motu. Nansen has not fight since as she focuses in MMA. Her current Professional boxing record is 9 wins 5 losses 1 draw.

LGBT World Champion

In March 2017, Geovana Peres made her professional boxing debut against Sarah Long. Peres loss that fight, which is the only loss of her career. She would go on to win Two New Zealand titles, becoming the first ever LGBT New Zealand professional boxing champion and first to win two New Zealand titles from two different commissioning bodies. Peres would have a rivalry against Lani Daniels with their first fight for Peres Light Heavyweight title. Peres would win their first encounter in March 2018.

On March 2019, the two would fight against but this time for the first ever WBO World Light Heavyweight title. Geovana Peres born in brazil but obtained New Zealand citizenship in July 2018, now proudly represents New Zealand. Peres won the fight by unanimous decision and became the first ever LGBT person to represent New Zealand to win a World boxing title. Peres would successfully defend her title in October 2019 against Canadian Clare Hafner before retiring in 2021. She would finish her career witht he record of 8 wins 1 loss.

Second Maori World Champion

Cherneka Johnson is made her professional boxing debut in April 2016. Johnson mostly represented Australia, however, always wears the Maori Flag before her fights in the ring. In April 2022 she would get an opportunity to fight for the vacant IBF World Super Bantameight title against Mexican boxer Melissa Esquivel. Johnson would win the title by Majority Decision becoming the second Maori boxer to win a world title. She would successfully defend her title in October 2022 against Susie Ramadan becoming the first ever Maori to succesfully defend a world boxing title. Shortly after the fight she would be signed with major promoter Lou DiBella.

Future world champion

This year on May 27th, Lani Daniels will take on Alrie Meleisea for the first ever IBF World Heavyweight title. This will be history making as this is the first world title fight between two New Zealand born boxers and first world title fight between Maori and Pasifika. This will be the second time two New Zealand citizens will fight for a world title. This historical event also helped other boxers as it cause the IBF to create the first Heavyweight womens boxing rankings since November 2015. Which makes this fight important on so many levels.

Maori New Zealand boxers

It is amazing how much history the Indigenous people of New Zealand Maori has achieved in the sport of boxing. From the first female to fight in a New Zealand professional boxing fight Maori Wena Karaka, to first ever IBF World Champion, Daniella Smith. And today more Maori are making history with Lani Daniels who already fought for a world title against Geovana Peres is now fighting for another one in May 27th in the first ever Maori vs Pasifika for the first ever womens IBF World Heavyweight title. And of course the current IBF Womens Super Bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson who was the first ever Maori to successfully defend world title. Mea Motu is another Maori who made history now setting the record for most New Zealand Professional titles.–