(JULY 10) A massive upset has happened last night in the small town of Putāruru, New Zealand where world-ranked boxer Alrie Meleisea lost against professional rugby player Sequita Hemingway on her debut.

Alrie Meleisea who now has the record of 5 wins 1 lose and 1 draw is ranked 3rd in the WBA and 8th in the WBC. She was ranked 3rd on Boxrec, but now is ranked 5th, behind Sequita Hemingway.

Alrie Meleisea took New Zealand by storm when she made her debut in 2016. She captured her New Zealand heavyweight title and successfully defended the title in 2017. Since then, Alrie Meleisea has been mostly inactive. She made her return in 2019 where she drew with former rival Sarah Long and defeated now-retired boxer, Ashley Campbell. Due to covid, not many fights were happening in 2020, and that included Alrie Melesiea. Alrie had her first fight last night in 20 months and she took on a professional athlete.

Sequita Hemingway is a New Zealand professional rugby player who plays for the Manawatu Cyclones. The Cyclones are part of the national competition, Farah Palmer Cup. Last year the Cyclones won 4 out of their 5 games, coming second in the season standing, before losing in the semi-finals.

Sequita Hemingway who plays prop for the team. Only started boxing this year. She has had multiple Corporate boxing fights which she has won. But apart from her corporate fights, she has had no amateur boxing experience. She made her professional boxing debut against Alrie Meleisea with a massive height advantage over Alrie.

A lot of people thought Alrie coming into this fight would be just a simple warm-up match. However, for those who don’t know much about rugby, they are extraordinary athletes who could play a game for up to 80 minutes with one 10 minutes halftime. So Alrie might have the boxing experience, but Sequita had the height and the athleticism.

In the first round, Sequita Hemingway boxed like she was boxing for years. Simply jabbing on the outside, moving around the ring and when Alrie gets too close both boxers let their hands go. Sequita Hemingway clearly won the first round by just out jabbing her opponent.

In the second round, the first 30 seconds of the broadcast feed was cut, unfortunately, however, it seemed that Alrie was in control, landing some heavy shots, and putting the pressure onto Sequita. Last 30 seconds of the round Sequita was keeping Alrie away with her jab. Alrie seems to be waiting too long to actually do something. Going off what the commentators were saying as we missed that first 30 seconds, I would say that was an Alrie Meleisea round.

The third round was very similar to the first round. Sequita controlling the fight, keeping alrie away with her jab. Alrie landing more this time than she did in the first round, however, It was another Sequita round.

The last round was a much closer round. Both girls let their hands go at the beginning which seemed that Alrie had the better of the exchange. But Sequita went back to boxing Alrie and outboxing her. When Alrie gets too close, Sequita lands a nice right hand. In the last 20 seconds the girls let their hands go again but this time Sequita had the better of the exchange. Closer round but I would say Sequita won the round.

At the end of the fight, MC Isaac Savage announced Sequita Hemingway as the winner by Majority Decision.

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