IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia says Davis Nyika is trying to put an end to what he is trying to achieve with his career, and he won’t let him do it on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia.
A drained Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) was quite surprised by the intensity Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) showed during their face-off at the weigh-in. He thinks Nyika (29) plans things ahead of time at home, and that is not his style.
The Challenger is trying to get an edge to win his fight because he knows he is facing what many fans believe is the King of the Cruiserweight division. Nyika doesn’t have the experience or the hype over his career like Opetaia, but that doesn’t mean he can’t win.
“He’s trying to end me”
He catches Jai at the perfect time, with him starting to show the pressure to make weight and having fought former IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis in a grueling rematch last May. Nyika has the size, strength and hunger to win this fight if he can overcome Opetaia.
“I didn’t expect that either. It was his little one. I know this kid goes home and he plans things in his head that he said. Who knows? I’m not giving up,” said Jai Opetaia Boxing King Mediaand talks about his face at the weigh-in with David Nyika.
“I never badmouthed anyone. I never talked about anyone. I said I live here. This is what I do. I’m talking about myself. I never badmouthed anyone. He’s still a good guy, but very intense inside. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves.
“This is his opportunity, and he’s trying to put an end to what I’m trying to do. So, it’s all up for grabs. I don’t know, man. It’s a strange thing to hear,” Opetaia said when told that some people said her ‘aura gives them goosebumps.’
Aura of intimidation
Nyika wanted to show that he wasn’t intimidated by Opetaia like the others, and that’s why he got in his face and let him know that he was going to win this fight. He predicts a knockout victory, and it will be interesting to see if he can do it against Jai. If he does, it will upset Opetaia and his promoter Eddie Hearn’s plans for fights against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Oleksandr Usyk.
“I’m just focused on myself and trying to win these battles and move forward in life. I hope they are good chickens and make you get off your a** and do something,” said Opetaia.
“I met Mike Tyson. I have too much respect for Mike Tyson to pit myself against him, and he gives me goosebumps. So what does it say? So, I don’t know what to say,” Opetaia said.
