Lani Daniels

Lani Daniels was born on July 15, 1988, in Whangārei, New Zealand. Known as "The Smiling Assassin," Lani grew up in Pipiwai, north of Whangārei, in a large family with nine siblings. She faced profound loss when her younger brother passed away at the age of 11. Later, she struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse during her teenage years, but she was inspired to change her life by her older sister, Caroline, who was already involved in boxing. Lani eventually trained to become a mental health nurse and credits boxing with "saving her life."

As an amateur boxer, Lani trained alongside Caroline at Nabby's Gym in Hamilton under coach Dion McNabney. Between 2014 and 2015, she won New Zealand national titles in two weight classes and competed in approximately 30 amateur fights. In 2015, she was recognized as the “Most Scientific Boxer” at the National Championships, receiving the Bobby Johnson Cup.

Lani turned professional in September 2017, making her debut against Trish Vaka and winning by unanimous decision. Two months later, she defended her title in a rematch for the NZPBA Light-Heavyweight national belt, winning once again by unanimous decision. In March 2018, she faced Geovana Peres for the WBO light-heavyweight title but lost a closely contested split decision. This effort raised her profile and led her to a new coach and manager, John Conway.

Undeterred, Lani returned to the ring, dominating Nailini Helu in July 2018 and successfully defending her NZPBA title. In September 2018, she captured the Pro Box NZ super-middleweight title, becoming the first New Zealand woman to win national titles in two weight divisions. On December 2, 2023, in Whangārei, Lani defeated Australian Desley Robinson to win the IBF light-heavyweight world title, making her New Zealand's first-ever two-division world champion.

Outside the ring, Lani works as a mental health nurse, trains local youth for free, and actively gives back to her Māori community. In April 2025, she signed with major U.S. promoter Salita Promotions, joining a roster that includes Claressa Shields and Jarrell Miller. This marked a pivotal step toward higher-profile international bouts.

Lani's favorite boxing combinations start with a probing jab, followed by a left hook to the body and a right uppercut. This head-body-head layering consistently wears down her opponents. In the later rounds, she relies on a heavy short left hook and an overhand right, especially in clinches, allowing her to land powerful, compact shots that break down her opponents' defenses. During her rematch against Sequita Hemingway in March 2023, she executed these tactics with precision, backing Hemingway into the ropes and delivering tight hooks and overhands while maintaining a solid defensive posture. Her elbows stayed close, her shots were short and deliberate.

Defensively, Lani employs a tight peek-a-boo–inspired guard, keeping her hands high at cheek level and her elbows in to absorb incoming punches while remaining poised to counter. She slips inside and rolls under blows with subtle hip movements before pivoting away and resetting at mid-range. This technique reflects elite defensive strategies in boxing: she avoids damage by slipping and rolling, then responds with force. In her bout against Alrie Meleisea in May 2023, her ability to roll under wild swings and counter with compact shots was crucial to her performance. By never remaining static, she made it difficult for her opponents to establish their rhythm.

Her tactics also involve countering. She begins fights by backing her opponents onto the ropes and unleashing left hooks and overhand rights, gradually increasing the pace and volume of her attacks. Against Desley Robinson in December 2023, she pressed her opponent against the ropes with body shots, then switched to clean head shots once the foundation was set. Her jab not only creates openings but also helps dictate range and establish the fight's rhythm.