Sequita Hemingway

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Sequita Hemingway (born January 7, 1982) is a New Zealand athlete who competes in boxing, rugby league and rugby union. She is of Māori descent, affiliated with Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāi Tūhoe.

Boxing
Hemingway fights as a heavyweight. Her trainer is Filipo Saua of Snap Back Boxing. She made her professional boxing debut against world-ranked Alrie Meleisea and won by majority decision in what was considered a major upset. Her pro record stands at 10 fights with 4 wins (0 by knockout) and 6 losses. At her best, she reached high world rankings: fourth on BoxRec, third in the WBA, sixth in the WBC, and first in the IBO.

Key events include:
- July 2021: Plans to box at Eden Park were announced.
- April 2022: The event was moved to ABA Stadium, where she lost to Lani Daniels by unanimous decision.
- Late 2022: She was ranked 3rd in the WBA in the light heavyweight category.
- December 2022: A rematch with Meleisea for the vacant Pro Box NZ New Zealand National heavyweight title took place but Meleisea won by unanimous decision.
- January 2023 to March 2023: Talks and then a scheduled rematch with Daniels for the ANBF Australasian Heavyweight title; on March 10, 2023, Daniels won the fight by unanimous decision.
- She has expressed interest in more fights, including a potential rematch with Meleisea or a bout against Nailini Helu.

Rugby
Hemingway has also played rugby league and rugby union in New Zealand. Her rugby league career includes time with the Linton Cobras in Wellington and the Mid Central Vipers from 2016 to 2020, with the Cobras winning regional titles during her tenure. In rugby union, she played for Kia Toa RFC and later for the Manawatu Cyclones in the Farah Palmer Cup (2017–2019). She was part of the Manawatu Rugby Union squad from 2017 to 2019, making several appearances.

Personal background
Hemingway is a trailblazer in women's combat sports in New Zealand, known for breaking ground as a two-time heavyweight national boxing champion. She continues to compete while also pursuing rugby at high levels, representing a versatile athletic career.