Professional boxers David Nyika (R) and Hemi Ahio during a press conference and media event at TVNZ to announce their upcoming fights on the undercard of the rematch between George Kambosos Jr and Devin Haney in October in Melbourne. Monday 12 September 2022. © Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
There was never a concern among David Nyika’s team to secure a new opponent in time to save the show.
Duco Events, Nyika’s primary promoter, has lined up Western Pennsylvania’s Tommy Karpency to face the undefeated cruiserweight. Karpency replaces Blake Caparello, who was pulled after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone.
Nyika-Karpency will perform a DAZN show from Viaduct Events Center in Auckland, New Zealand on September 14.
“Securing such a high-quality opponent at short notice is incredibly difficult, so we are delighted with this result,” said Duco Events’ David Higgins. “That says everything you need to know about Tommy Karpency. He is regarded by both the sanctioning bodies and our broadcast partner as – if anything – a step up from Caparello.
“With that naturally comes a step up in the challenge for David Nyika. The stakes have just increased significantly.”
Nyika (9-0, 8 KOs) has stopped each of his last six opponents. The 2020 New Zealand Olympian defeated recently undefeated Michael Seitz on the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury undercard on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He still gets to headline his first DAZN show with the quick call to action by his promotional team.
“It’s boxing,” Nyika shrugged. “My job is to take out whoever my promoters put in front of me. That’s what I’m going to do.
“Obviously I have great respect for a guy like Tommy who has been with the best and is still performing at an elite level – but now is my time. Tommy Karpency is going to learn it the hard way.”
Karpency (31-8-1, 19 KOs) is just 2-2 in his last four starts. He picked up a club-level victory over Joe Jones on August 10 in Warren, Ohio.
David Nyika’s next steps on his road to a cruiserweight world title will now be even more difficult.
Nyika’s promoters Duco Events and Joseph Parker Promotions have named dangerous American goalkeeper Tommy Karpency to replace Blake Caparello for the main event of the Road to the Title presented by Manuka Doctor at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.
Such is the stature of Karpency – who has challenged for the IBO, WBO and WBC light heavyweight world titles during a stellar 18-year career – that the bout was quickly sanctioned by the IBF and WBO and sanctioned by global broadcasting giant DAZN .
The IBF and WBO intercontinental cruiserweight belts will be up for grabs.
Karpency – who has faced Adonis Stevenson (WBC light heavyweight title fight), Andrzej Fonfara (IBO light heavyweight title fight) and Nathan Cleverly (WBO light heavyweight title fight) – is primed and ready to go after defeating Joe Jones last time out month.
