Pukepoto's Mea Motu was too strong for India's Chandni Mehra in Whangārei last December.
Pukepoto's Mea Motu was too strong for India's Chandni Mehra in Whangārei last December.
Northland world champion boxer Mea Motu’s date with destiny and a world title unification bout has been put off due to injury of her planned opponent, England’s Ellie Scotney.
But the “Nightmea” from Pukepoto, outside Kaitāia, is taking the setback in her stride and will keep busy with a non-title fight against Australia’s Shannon O’Connell in Sydney on October 4.
However, Motu, and her trainer Isaac Peach, have had to change their plans and Peach Boxing and No Limit Promotions have quickly lined up a dangerous opponent to keep the fighter busy, so she’s ready when the mega fight with Scotney does come off.
Scotney has pulled out of the highly anticipated fight due to an injury, leaving Motu and her team devastated. The IBF has mandated that the fight must happen, and a new date will be set once Scotney is ready.
To keep active Motu will face Australia’s top world title contender, Shannon “Shotgun” O’Connell, in Sydney on October 4 at The Star Casino. This bout, organised on short notice, will be contested at a catchweight of 56.85kg due to the shortened timeframe, which prevents Motu from making her usual Super Bantamweight limit of 55.3kg.
“I’m gutted that Scotney has pulled out, but this only gives me more time to improve while she works through whatever is going on for her. She can delay the inevitable, but I’m still coming to take those belts off her and bring them home to New Zealand,” she said.
“I’m so grateful and excited that my team and No Limit could organise this last-minute fight against Shannon O’Connell. She’s a legend in her own right, and I’m thankful she agreed to it. But at the same time, I’m going to make her regret that decision. I’m going to remind the world why I’m the number one contender for the belts.’’
Mea, Andrei and her team, led by coach Isaac Peach, will travel to Brisbane on Friday for a pre-scheduled sparring camp, before heading straight to Sydney on October 1 to finalise preparations for the fight.
Mea Motu will face Australia’s Shannon O'Connell in Sydney after her fight for the IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine titles against English star Ellie Scotney was put off.
“Honestly, this boxing world is like a movie. It’s a rollercoaster, all the things that happen behind the scenes. But we are ready, we’re always ready, and we’re going to show what Kiwis can do on a global stage,” Peach said.
In March she won a dominant second-round stoppage victory over 20-year-old Thai Noppaket Srisawas in Auckland and vowed to head overseas to defend her crown and take on some of the biggest names in the sport with the aim of becoming an undisputed world champ.
After the March bout, Motu sent a stern warning to her fellow female fighters - including IBF and WBO super bantamweight champion, Scotney.
“I’m coming Ellie Scott, you better watch it, you ain’t seen this Māori girl,” Motu said after the win.
In 2022, Motu became the first, and still only, NZ woman to win titles in three weights, and is determined to be the country’s first undisputed world champ.
“It takes me to the world, and I’m coming to collect all those damn belts, I’ll show you what I’m made of,” Motu told the Northland Age after that March fight.
