Tongan boxing powerhouse Nailini Helu is set to step back into the ring on 26 March for a showdown with Papua New Guinea’s world‑ranked Sheilla Yama in Auckland.
The bout will feature as the co‑main event of BX‑9 4, broadcast live on pay‑per‑view through CSN.Watch.
Helu, a two‑time PBCNZ Pacific Super Middleweight champion, faces one of the toughest challenges of her career as she steps back into competitive boxing for the first time since August 2024. The matchup has been billed as a clash of Pacific powerhouses—Tonga vs Papua New Guinea.
In preparation for her return, Helu is training under renowned Tongan combat sports coach Master Lolo Heimuli, whose distinguished coaching career includes guiding global stars such as David Tua, Mark Hunt, Doug Viney, Ray Sefo, Junior Fa, Israel Adesanya, and many others.
One of the biggest hurdles for Helu will be a significant weight drop. Helu typically fights between 72.5 kg and 79.4 kg—between middleweight and light heavyweight. For this bout, however, she will compete at 66.4 kg, a welterweight limit and the lightest weight of her career.
Helu, who usually walks around at 74 kg, is working with a dietitian to safely achieve the cut.
Yama, meanwhile, will move up a division from her usual super lightweight category at 65.6 kg. With both fighters struggling to secure opponents in their respective classes, BX‑9 promoter Oz Jabur worked to bring the cross‑Pacific matchup together, eventually securing signed contracts.
Helu’s Inactivity Presents a Test
Helu has not fought since 17 August 2024, when she claimed her second PBCNZ Pacific Super Middleweight title in a rematch against Tinta Smith. The long layoff may pose challenges as she re‑enters the ring.
Yama enters the fight with strong credentials, holding international recognition including a WBA No. 10 ranking, WBC No. 19, and BoxRec No. 17. Helu, currently unranked due to inactivity, has previously reached BoxRec No. 5 at super middleweight and IBF No. 6 at light heavyweight.
Another Tongan athlete will feature on the card: David Rounds, also known as Lolo Heimuli Jr, who will make his Semi‑Pro/Hybrid‑Pro debut. Rounds has dominated the amateur scene, having won the 2024 New Zealand National Amateur Championship, as well as North Island Golden Gloves titles in 2022 and 2025.
He was set to compete in the 2023 Pacific Games with a pathway to the Olympics, but was medically ruled out. Rounds will face fellow amateur Alfie Horton.
BX‑9 4 will also showcase former world title challenger Andrei Mikhailovich, who headlines the card against Australian Jordan Towns.
Full Card Confirmed
Main Event
Light Heavyweight 8x3min rounds
(New Zealand) Andrei Mikhailovich vs Jordan Towns (Australia)
Co-Main event
Welterweight 6x2min Rounds
(New Zealand/Papua New Guinea) Sheilla Yama vs Nailini Helu (New Zealand/Tongan)
Cruiserweight 5x3min rounds
(New Zealand) Nikolas Charalampous vs Lochlan Duncombe (Australia)
Pro Preliminaries card confirmed
Heavyweight 4x3min rounds
(Wellington) Jordan Collins vs Mathew Matich (Whangarei)
Super Middleweight 4x3min rounds
(Waikato/Bulls) Emile Richardson vs Jack Dickson (Christchurch)
Hybrid/Semi-Pro Card
Light Heavyweight 3x3min rounds
(New Zealand) Josh Tonga vs Oliver Parker (Australia)
Super Welterweight 3x3min rounds
(Australia) Raam Didumo vs Feargus Gordon (New Zealand)
Featherweight 3x3min rounds
(New Zealand/Tonga) Lolo Heimuli jnr aka David Rounds vs Alfie Horton (New Zealand)
