Hemingway eyes shot at world title
A shot at a world title could be one fight away for Manawatū boxer Sequita Hemingway.
She is fighting Lani Daniels from Northland in a light heavyweight bout in Auckland today, on the undercard of the bout between Mea Motu and Baby Nansen.
A win could open doors Hemingway internationally.
Daniels usually fights at under 80kg but has moved up a weight class to face Hemingway at 83kg to 84kg.
Hemingway has been through a 12-week training block. Her trainer, Filipo Saua of Snap Back Gym, said that if she won this weekend they would be going for a world title.
Daniels is a top fighter and has been to the Commonwealth Games so should be a tough prospect.
‘‘She [Daniels] is No 2 in the world. If we win this one, we’re going right to the top,’’ Saua said.
Hemingway, 40, has been in impressive form in her short pro career. Having won all her corporate bouts as an amateur by knockout, she moved into the pro ranks and won her first fight last year.
Since then she has struggled to get fights. They had a fight organised for her in March, but it was cancelled because of Covid-19.
‘‘I had to go to five, six people to fight her. They don’t want to know,’’ Saua said.
Hemingway, ranked No 2 in the IBO world rankings, knew she would have to be on top of her game to beat Daniels, a former WBO world light heavyweight challenger who has a record of four wins, two losses and two draws. for
She had watched footage of Daniels and was expecting her to be fast and good on the counter.
‘‘So I’m just going to have to be faster, hopefully, and be able to counter faster than she can and get out. If I can speed it up or slow it down just to chuck her off a bit, then that’s a win for me.’’
A win this weekend will boost Hemingway’s chances for a shot at the heavyweight division champion, Costa Rican Hanna Gabriels.
‘‘I’ve got a good coach and a good team behind me that keep pushing me. So if they’re going to keep pushing, I can keep pushing it,’’ Hemingway said.
‘‘You know, I’m not getting any younger. I’ve got 10 years-plus on half these fighters.
‘‘If I can stay as fit as I can this year, that’s just a bonus.
‘‘And yeah, hopefully, get a world title shot or even a New Zealand heavyweight title shot.’’