Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Latest updates and results after brutal knockout in cruiserweight clash
Australia’s Jai Opetaia retained his IBF belt against New Zealand’s David Nyika
Jai Opetaia stopped David Nyika with a vicious knockout on Wednesday, retaining the IBF cruiserweight title on home soil in Australia.
Opetaia stopped the New Zealander in round four, landing a series of shots with Nyika stuck against the ropes and putting the challenger down and out with a brutal left hook.
Moments earlier, Opetaia had floored Nyika with a left and right at close range, but the latter was quick to stand. With a minute left in the round, however, there was always danger for Nyika, and Opetaia stalked him in pursuit of a finish.
It soon came, with Opetaia’s left hook putting Nyika facedown on the canvas and in need of treatment. A few minutes later, Nyika was sitting up, as Opetaia applauded from his corner. The result kept Opetaia, 29, unbeaten, while he handed Nyika, also 29, his first professional loss.
Opetaia then used his post-fight interview to call out WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez, as the Australian seeks to unify the cruiserweight belts. But Opetaia’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, also talked up a potential clash with heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Follow all the fallout from Opetaia vs Nyika below. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Eddie Hearn: “I mean, this is the most brutal sport of all, and you saw it up close.
“I believe David Nyika will be a world champion in the future, but not tonight. He came up against not just the best fighter in Australia, but one of the best fighters in the world, in Jai Opetaia.
“You’re talking about a very special fighter. It’s not just the belts at cruiserweight, it’s the belts at heavyweight. Huge future ahead.”
Hearn says Opetaia should enter the pound-for-pound rankings.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Opetaia: “Man, all that style s*** went out the window. That was a dogfight, and I respect that. He kept coming forward, he kept punching. Thank you, David. We gave this crowd a good fight.
“Ramirezzzzzz, I’m coming for the belts! I’m coming for my belts.”
That’s a callout of WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez. We knew Opetaia was likely to target a unification fight next.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Opetaia: “David, thank you. Man, he took the fight on three weeks’ notice, he came here to fight, he gave me a dogfight. I respect that. I take my hat off to David.
“F***ing hell, we love this. Hard work every day. It’s a team effort that makes these things happen. From the f***ing fighter to the trainers to the promoter to the manager. So, thank you.
“There’s always pressure, so we sort of thrive off that. Man, I’m just so happy with the crowd coming out here, showing love. Thank you all so much.”
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Jai Opetaia def. David Nyika via fourth-round KO (2:17).
And STILL the IBF cruiserweight champion. And STILL unbeaten.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Nyika is still down... He landed facedown, but he’s now on his back, receiving some treatment...
A few minutes later, he’s sitting up, and Opetaia applauds from his own corner. That’s a relief.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Cruiserweight title fight
Round four
Lovely right hook by Opetaia, but Nyika takes it well! Again Opetaia lands heavily, though. Has he found his rhythm?
He burrows a right hand into the body, then targets the head of Nyika. Good output from the champion right now. Still Nyika comes forward, taking a deep breath.
Uppercut from Opetaia, then a left hand and a right off the break!! They drop Nyika!
Nyika is quick to stand, but there’s a minute left in this round...
Opetaia is stalking Nyika, landing hooks with the Kiwi on the ropes – literally and figuratively – and one sickening left puts Nyika DOWN AND OUT!
It’s all over.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Cruiserweight title fight
Round three
Nyika is southpaw again, but Opetaia seems more comfortable when the Kiwi is in that stance.
Nyika reverts back after a good spell from Opetaia, in which the Aussie lands some spearing jabs and fluid combinations.
Nyika gets on the front foot now, but Opetaia hits him with a flurry of quick body uppercuts. Now a slower, harder shot. Nyika, the bigger man, clinches and wears on the Australian.
Grazing hooks from Opetaia at close range. Nyika switches stances again. Great right hook by the challenger, with Opetaia backed against the ropes!
Opetaia is definitely a step ahead, but this is a gruelling bout already.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Cruiserweight title fight
Round two
Nyika is backed up early in round two, but he’s able to reverse the position and get Opetaia against the ropes, as he looks to arrest some momentum and get the champion’s respect.
Nyika is back in his orthodox stance, breathing quite heavily. Both men are landing at close range, out in the open now. Opetaia’s body shots look really brutal. He goes to the head now, and Nyika stumbles slightly.
He and Opetaia tie up again. They separate, and Nyika shoots first, but Opetaia lands harder. There’s some more phone-booth fighting, with both men attacking the head and body.
A pair of harsh hooks to the head of Nyika, but he takes them well. OH! Clean southpaw cross upstairs from Opetaia, HEAVY! But Nyika fires back well!!
What an end to the round! The rivals stare each other down. A smirk from Opetaia.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Cruiserweight title fight
Round one
Nyika stands orthodox; Opetaia is southpaw. The cruiserweights look to stay light on their feet, bouncing up and down. Opetaia presses forward. Nyika with a fair few straight shots already. A couple of clinches ensue, and these guys need to be wary of clashing heads...
Opetaia digs a hook to the body but eats a shot upstairs. He covers up and stays calm, as Nyika backs him up to the ropes and unloads a few shots. Two heavy body hooks by Opetaia as he moves off the ropes.
As he often does, Opetaia is using those bounces to feint some body shots, seeing how his opponent will react. Body hooks from both men now. Nyika follows up by popping a jab upstairs, before skipping away. Nyika goes southpaw too now.
OH! Nyika is absorbing some heavy shots right now, and he looks a little concerned... It’s late in the round, though, and he gets to the bell okay.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Main-event ring walks
Both fighters are in the ring!
In one corner stands Australia’s own Opetaia – 29 years old and unbeaten (26-0, 20 KOs).
In the other corner is New Zealand’s Nyika – also 29, also unbeaten (10-0, 9 KOs).
Nyika looked relaxed during his ring walk; Opetaia looked fired up.
Twelve rounds are scheduled here, with Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight title on the line.
It’s time for the main event...
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