Peres makes good fist of title dream
New Zealand women’s boxing star Geovana Peres has two dreams within touching distance.
The first will be realised when she fights for a genuine world title, taking on fellow Kiwi Lani Daniels for the WBO’S vacant light-heavyweight belt in Auckland on March 30.
Win that and her second dream of entering the ring with her idol, American Claressa Shields, could also become a reality.
Promoter Bruce Glozier, who has been putting the world title fight together since last September, said Shields, an American double Olympic gold medallist at middleweight and unified world champion in two divisions since turning professional, had indicated a willingness to fight the winner of the Auckland bout.
Peres doesn’t want to get ahead of herself, though. The 41-year-old Brazilian who has lived in New Zealand for nine years and became a citizen last year, is giving Daniels her full attention.
So she should. The pair have history.
Peres beat Daniels in a split decision last March and the rematch has been simmering for 12 months. Now the stakes are higher than anyone anticipated.
‘‘It’s a dream becoming true and a very good opportunity to raise women’s boxing in New Zealand too,’’ Peres told Stuff as she attended a public workout at fight venue Sky City in Auckland yesterday.
‘‘Lani is a very skilled fighter and we had a good fight.’’
Northlander Daniels has worked hard developing her fighting style and promises to be an even tougher opponent this time.
But Peres insists she has lifted her game too, never training harder.
‘‘I have been training for a long time for this. I can’t say what will happen because what will be, will be. But I can say that my preparation for this fight has been my best ever. I suppose she will be as hungry as I am for this title so it’s going to be awesome.’’
Winning the world title would be one thing, defending it against Shields would be another level for Peres who has only been boxing seriously for a little over three years.
‘‘When I started boxing Claressa was at the peak of her amateur career and I remember looking at her and saying to myself, ‘one day I want to be like this girl. One day I want to fight this girl’.
‘‘Winning or losing doesn’t matter, I just want to have an opportunity to be in the ring with her.
‘‘To be face-to-face with your idol . . . that’s my ultimate goal from now.’’
The WBO hasn’t had a world title in the light-heavyweight division, filling up the lower divisions first.
With Peres ranked No 1 and Daniels No 10, Glozier persuaded the WBO to match the two Kiwis for the inaugural title fight in a coup for the sport here. One thing for certain is there will be a New Zealand winner and Glozier’s intention is to stage the first defence of the title in New Zealand.
The March 30 fight is sold out with 38 corporate tables and 30 tables for the general public.