David Nyika says he is ready to “shock the world” by upsetting IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia in their fight next week on January 8 at the Gold Coast Convention Center in Broadbeach, Australia.
This fight is as tough for Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) as his two fights against Mairis Briedis, and he could lose if Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) brings the pressure. The 6’6″ Nyika, 29, is likely to beat everyone Opetaia has fought during his nine-year professional career and do so in the same way.
David against Goliath
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn hopes Opetaia, 29, can win this fight as he looks to push to set up a business-level match for Jai against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2025.
“I’m a whole new animal, and on January 8 you’ll see,” David Nyika told Matchroom Boxing about his fight against IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. “I can’t see Opetai going down without a fight. The Ring Magazine and IBF cruiserweight titles, I’m bringing them back home.
“Fighting in his backyard would be amazing. I have always performed better when under pressure and when the odds are high. So, it’s David against Goliath. He is the king of the cruiserweight division as far as anyone is concerned.
“Let’s shock the world. I’m going to do everything I can to achieve my goal. “And a new champion has arisen,” Nyika said.
Nyika already has the blueprint to defeat Opetaia: hit him hard, apply pressure and don’t let him rest for a second. Opetaia partly modeled his style on Dmitri Bivol, whom he admires. When aggressively attacked, he runs up.
In Opetaia’s rematch with Mairis Briedis last May, we saw a fighter who doesn’t like to be hit and reacts with fear when he starts getting punished. If Nyika can attack Opetaia more aggressively, he can break him and make him quit mentally. The white flag of surrender will go up the flagpole at Opetaia.
Out to shock the world, but the real beast is @jaiopetaia1 😉 #OpetaiaNyika | January 8 | @tasmanfighters pic.twitter.com/TeRYgx9GZb
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 2, 2025
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