IBF Heavyweight World Title Champion Lani Daniels celebrates at Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland. Photo: Photosport
World champion New Zealand boxer Lani Daniels will defend her IBF light heavyweight belt against an unbeaten Nigerian opponent in September.
Daniels announced details of her fight in Hamilton on 7 September when she will come up against hard-hitting Bolatito Oluwole, who has won nine from nine in the professional ranks.
It will be the first fight in nine months for 35-year-old Daniels, who won the vacant belt with a tight majority decision win over Australian Desley Robinson in Whangarei.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Northland resident Daniels, who began her amateur career in Hamilton, where she lived in her 20s
Mandatory challenger Oluwole, 22, has never fought outside of Nigeria but Daniels' trainer and manager John Conway anticipated a serious threat.
He said most of Daniels' 10 professional wins have come against good technical boxers, not power punchers like Oluwole, who has knocked out five opponents.
Conway added: "This may be Lani's last fight in New Zealand before defending her world title overseas".