Opetaia KOs Nyika in ‘savage’ homecoming defence
Jai Opetaia knocked New Zealand challenger David Nyika out in the fourth round of his IBF world cruiserweight title defence on the Gold Coast.
A “savage” Jai Opetaia has landed his biggest statement yet, knocking David Nyika out to defend his IBF and The Ring world cruiserweight title belts in a brutal Gold Coast homecoming.
The local favourite looked to be in a fight with the late-call-up from New Zealand, who took the Wednesday night duel on just three weeks’ notice and showed tremendous intent in an even first three rounds.
But an Opetaia short right in the fourth round floored Nyika, who fought on only to be hit again seconds later by a right hook.
Opetaia didn’t miss his chance with Nyika hanging on the rope, landing a left hook on the challenger’s nose that sent him crashing to the floor and left him still on the canvas for several minutes.
It was Opetaia’s first fight in Australia since July 2022, when he broke his jaw twice but still found a way to upset Latvian champion Mairis Briedis and first win the belts.
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Nyika walked slowly out of the ring to a round of applause, the loss his first in an 11th professional start for the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist.
“David, thank you … he gave me a dog fight, I respect that,” Opetaia said.
“He slugged it out … he kept coming forward, he kept punching, thank you David.”
Victory, Opetaia’s 27th from as many starts, sets up a potential unification with Mexican star Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, who holds both the WBA and WBO straps, later this year.
“Ramirez, I’m coming for your belts,” Opetaia said.
“I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long time. I’m coming.”
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Opetaia’s British promoter Eddie Hearn tipped his cap to “future world champion” Nyika before repeating his claims that the “savage” Australian is the only man capable of challenging undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
“He (Nyika) came up against not just the best fighter in Australia, but one of the best fighters in the world, in Jai Opetaia … savage,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said.
“You’re talking about a very special fighter. It’s not just the belts at cruiserweight, it’s the belts at heavyweight.”
“Jai’s humble enough to not yet talk about the name of Oleksandr Usyk. I’m not.
“Jai’s gonna pick up all the belts in the cruiserweight division to become undisputed, then we’re going push him into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
“You have to search for greatness. I believe he’s the only person right now, cruiserweight or heavyweight, who can give Usyk a real fight.
“But to do it, we’ve got to get all the cruiserweight belts.
“Trust me, in 12-18 months, Jai Opetaia against Oleksandr Usyk … at (Brisbane’s) Suncorp Stadium, why not.”
Earlier Max McIntyre stopped Turkey’s Abdulselam Saman, also in the fourth round, to impressively claim the IBF world super middleweight youth title.
Teremoana Teremoana improved to 6-0 with a first-round knockout of German Osasu Otobo, who was 11-1-1 heading into the fight.
And fellow heavyweight Justis Huni moved to 12-0 with a potent second-round stoppage of South African Shaun Potgieter.
