New Zealand’s Emma Nesbitt reaffirmed her supremacy in the Pacific by capturing the WBA Oceania women’s minimumweight title. In front of a roaring crowd at Auckland’s ABA Stadium, which fully rallied behind its hometown star, Nesbitt defeated Thailand’s Banthita Pumkrathok by technical knockout in the sixth round, handing the visitor the first defeat of her professional career.

From the opening round, Nesbitt imposed a frenetic pace that left little room for Pumkrathok’s strategy to develop. The local champion relied on her trademark aggression and surgical precision to punish the face of an opponent who, despite entering the bout undefeated, was overwhelmed by the power of the Kiwi fighter. Nesbitt’s transition from kickboxing to professional boxing was once again evident in her footwork and the fluidity of her combinations.

The ending came midway through the sixth round. After a series of clean shots that left the Thai fighter in a critical defensive position with no effective response, the referee stepped in to halt the action and rule a technical knockout.

With the victory, Nesbitt improves her record to 11 wins and just one loss, strengthening her position in the world rankings and setting her sights on a shot at a full world title before the end of the year.

The triumph of “Little Miss” Nesbitt not only keeps the belt at home but also sends a strong message to the rest of the contenders in the 108-pound division. Meanwhile, Pumkrathok leaves New Zealand having learned a hard lesson against one of the most solid rising forces in Oceania’s current boxing scene.