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: Opponents share intense weigh-in face-off
Will we see this intensity carry over into the main event? It’s just minutes away.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Main-event ring walks
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is a bit of a strange setting for a fight night; most fans seem to be sat around dinner tables!
Will they be standing for the main event? Let’s find out! The ring walks are upon us....
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie can bring the unlikely ‘unknown’ that Usyk needs
Oleksandr Usyk’s special brand of dominance is the type that can leave a vacuum. And while many, including The Independent, have urged Usyk to leave boxing with his unbeaten record and perfect legacy intact, it seems he will persist.
Few should doubt Usyk’s ability or motivation to do just that, but such a decision would bring a natural risk. His back-to-back victories over Tyson Fury appear the perfect performances with which to end his historic career, and there is no contender whom fans are demanding Usyk face, but a match-up with a younger, heavier hitter could be the challenge to finally blemish the 37-year-old’s resume (he turns 38 this month, by the way).
That was not the case against Daniel Dubois in 2023, but Usyk is two years older now, and if the Briton can retain the IBF belt against Joseph Parker, he may get his rematch. Yes, Usyk would be backed to overcome Dubois again, but the 27-year-old is a boxer reborn – and believes he was even denied a stoppage of Usyk when he landed a borderline body shot, which was ruled a low blow.
Overall, though, there is no great appetite for Usyk vs Dubois 2. Of course, that could change if Dubois vanquishes Parker with the same viciousness that shredded Anthony Joshua in September, but it feels like Usyk and boxing fans need something else now.
A sense of the unknown might be the solution, and one man can bring that. As Usyk eyes his future, it may well reflect his past, if Jai Opetaia is to make a much-anticipated move up from cruiserweight.
Full article:
Jai Opetaia can bring the unlikely ‘unknown’ that Oleksandr Usyk needs
Usyk has seen off this generation’s best heavyweights. Could a great cruiserweight offer his next true test?
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Main-event ring walks
Some of the best photos from today’s event:
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Justin Huni vs Shaun Potgieter
Round two
A well-placed left hook to the body by Huni, after he leans off the centre line to avoid a shot upstairs by Potgieter.
Huni with a right hook to the head now, and Potgieter is wincing – perhaps struggling with some damage to his left eye?
Huni senses a finish and corners the South African, who does not throw back as Huni pours on punches... and the referee has seen enough!
No complaints from Potgieter. His left eye is definitely sporting some bruising.
A quick win for Huni!
Justis Huni def. Shaun Potgieter via second-round TKO (0:33)
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Justin Huni vs Shaun Potgieter
Round one
Ten rounds scheduled. Both men stand orthodox. Huni with a few jabs early on, while Potgieter misses with some hooks. The South African staggers slightly after a hook from Huni, but it might have been caused by a footwork issue rather than any real hurt.
Oh... but Potgieter is definitely hurting from these punches, a slew of left hooks to the body!
Huni with a right and left hook there now, but the latter is ruled a low blow! It looked alright to me, but Potgieter is granted some time to recover. Back under way, and Huni lands a cross upstairs and a left hook to the body again.
He’s got Potgieter backed up to the ropes, and both men are throwing with speed and intent! Potgieter lands a few shots of his own, and now he has Huni against the ropes! Not for long, mind you, and Huni is back on the front foot. Two hard left hooks to the head of Potgieter. And a right. The referee is watching closely...
Eventually Potgieter is able to grab ahold of Huni to stop the onslaught. More body shots after they separate, though, and Potgieter does well to reach the bell.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Justin Huni vs Shaun Potgieter
One more fight before the main event! Twenty-five-year-old Justis Huni takes on Shaun Potgieter at heavyweight.
Australia’s Huni is unbeaten at 11-0 (6 KOs), while South Africa’s Potgieter is 10-1 (7 KOs).
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Max McIntyre vs Abdulselam Saman
Round three
McIntyre is still largely content to wait for Saman. He’s trying to time a counter uppercut when he can. In one exchange, the Aussie uses his taller frame and holds Saman’s head, landing an uppercut in close. Otherwise, it’s somewhat of a pedestrian round.
Round four
Saman loads up big on a southpaw cross but only finds the chest of McIntyre. Anyway, it spurs McIntyre on and he shows off more aggression than at any other point in this fight – and it pays off!
He drops Saman to his knees with a left hook, and although the Turkish boxer is quickly back up, he’s clearly a bit shaken... Another blitz from McIntyre, and Saman is hurt again; a body shot drops him to his knees against the ropes. He rises again, but there’s one final exchange to end it: McIntyre floors Saman with a huge overhand right, and the referee waves it off!
McIntyre embraces Saman, once the southpaw is back on his feet. Good to see.
Max McIntyre def. Abdulselam Saman via fourth-round TKO (1:59)
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Max McIntyre vs Abdulselam Saman
Next up, we have Max McIntyre vs Abdulselam Saman at super-middleweight.
Australia’s McIntyre is unbeaten at 6-0 (5 KOs), while Turkey’s Saman is 8-1 (1 KO).
Round one
Ten rounds scheduled. McIntyre on the front foot. Southpaw Saman staying light on his feet and firing back a counter cross. He tries another, but McIntyre effortlessly steps back to evade. The Aussie misses with a wide hook now, but he gets Saman to bite hard on a feint. Good head movement from McIntyre, as Saman flicks out a few shots upstairs. McIntyre, the taller man, is just a bit sharper with his punches – quicker and more accurate. Still, neither man landed much of note in that round.
Round two
A bit more aggression from Saman now! He forces a stumble out of McIntyre. Saman continues to open up here and there, with McIntyre looking for big counters each time. McIntyre could push the action more, to be honest. He does land a hard right cross at the end of the round, though, off the break.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Ben Mahoney vs Fan Zhang
Round 10
Final round, and it’s a firefight! Both men let their hands go and land clean shots! Mahoney’s are the heavier, as expected. What a great end to a fun fight.
For our money, Zhang did the better work for a long stretch in the middle rounds, but Mahoney started well and valiantly regained some momentum late. It’s hard to say which way it will go. Any hometown advantage for Mahoney? Let’s find out...
Fan Zhang def. Ben Mahoney via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90).
That is wild. All three judges give Mahoney EVERY single round. No, no, no.
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