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Shields vs. Daniels: How a New Zealand legend inspired Daniels to fight after suffering a tragic loss
Approaching the biggest fight of her professional career Saturday night , Lani Daniels will challenge for Claressa Shields’ undisputed heavyweight world championship at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, and live on DAZN .
A stunning upset and Daniels would become the first New Zealander to attain undisputed heavyweight glory. Working toward that goal, the 37-year-old is drawing massive inspiration from her fellow New Zealander warriors.
There is former WBO heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker , who Daniels tells DAZN News has “always been supportive of my journey,” former welterweight world champion Daniella Smith, and Mea Motu who just fell short of her attempt to become a unified super bantamweight world champion in being edged by Ellie Scotney this past January.
“It’s a tight-knit community,” Daniels says of New Zealand fighters. “We’ve always supported each other. It’s just great that they’re backing me.”
But perhaps no support has meant more to Daniels than that from David Tua, the Samoan-New Zealander knockout artist of the 1990s and early 2000s who at 5-foot-10 drew comparisons to Mike Tyson for his nightmarish punching power as a heavyweight.
“David Tua is someone who I’ve admired and been a massive inspiration from when I was a teenager,” Daniels says. “That was like a decade before I even picked up boxing gloves.”
Tua (52-5-2, 43 KOs) knocked out former heavyweight world champions such as Michael Moorer, Hasim Rahman and John Ruiz, and fell short against Lennox Lewis, across his potent heavyweight career.
Although he never won a major world championship, Tua was a feared former world championship challenger and contender and did win secondary titles before retiring in 2013.
But it was a gesture outside the ring that touched Daniels, leaving indelible marks on her and her family.
Daniels inspired by her brother's memory and Tua's support
Tua visited her brother Tukaha at a children’s hospital in New Zealand where the boy was battling leukemia.
“[Tua] would go around the warden and take his belts and go visit kids and put a smile on their face,” Daniels says.
“I just remember him coming to visit and how happy I was and the happiness it gave my family during that sad time. There’s a photo of him and my little brother and one of my best friends. When I see that photo, it assures me that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
After roughly eight months since being diagnosed, Tukaha succumbed to leukemia at the age of 11 in May 2003. Daniels was just 14 at the time.
(ADAM DEWEY | SALITA PROMOTIONS)
“Me and him were like sparring partners,” Daniels says. “We used to fight all the time.”
With her brother’s name meaning standing strong in Maori, Daniels had to do just that. The gym she trains at bearing Tukaha's name in Auckland, New Zealand serves as a constant reminder.
When she began boxing and started to build up her record, Tua would message her in support, though Daniels says she only “got the chance to meet him two years ago.”
“That was pretty cool,” she says of the moment. “He’s just been so supportive with my journey.”
His simple, kind gesture of visiting children in the hospital — her late brother being one of them — is an act Daniels herself would like to follow.
“That was always something I wanted to do is to be able to make people smile or make them feel happy regardless of what they’re going through in life because we do face challenges in life that we have no control over but we have to cope with them,” Daniels offers. “I think it’s better to do it with a smile. It just feels better.”
A dream to potential reality
After all, Daniels’ ring moniker is ‘The Smiling Assassin’ and she would like nothing more than to visit kids and their families, uplifting their spirits along the way.
She already owns the IBF light heavyweight world title. The thought of making the rounds with the undisputed heavyweight crown would make such visits all the more special.
“People tend to get a buzz when they see the belts. They have a natural effect on brightening up the eyes,” Daniels says with a smile.
“I want to be able to go around and show kids what’s possible or just go visit families that are going through tough times and cheer them up.”
Just like Tua did for her family and many others that special day.
Shields vs. Daniels live on DAZN
Watch Claressa Shields versus Lani Daniels live on Saturday night with a DAZN subscription. Annual and monthly options available.
