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: Ben Mahoney vs Fan Zhang
Round eight
The lights are back on, and Mahoney – after those extra moments’ rest – lands a clean cross and hook to start round eight! He’s soon skipping side to side, though, as Zhang picks up where he left off. Tidy jabs from Mahoney as Zhang misses with a wild hook. The referee pauses the action and warns the boxers, I believe for leading with their heads... Back under way, and Mahoney lands two smart lead uppercuts, before adding a hook. Cross, hook, uppercut from the Aussie. Big round for him!
Round nine
It feels like Mahoney has become a bit more economical with his technique in the last couple of rounds. He’s not forcing his punches or loading up on them too much – for the most part, anyway. It’s like he’s trying to tease shots out of Zhang with half-cooked punches, before turning up the heat in select moments. For Zhang, not much has changed; his modus operandi is still: come forward and punch, or come forward and cover up. ‘Come forward’ is the constant, of course.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Ben Mahoney vs Fan Zhang
Round seven
Mahoney with a pair of good hooks while – you guessed it – moving backwards. These are aimed upstairs, although he’s still throwing plenty of body hooks and those uppercuts to the head. He manages to back up Zhang to the ropes, but now he lets out a deep breath and backs off. Not a great sign. Mahoney misses with a series of punches as Zhang bears down on him. More misses from the Australian, but plenty of activity...
What’s this?? Before round eight can begin, the lights go out in the arena!
Staff are working on resolving the issue, but this gives Mahoney some time to catch his breath!
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Ben Mahoney vs Fan Zhang
Round five
This is a spirited showing from Mahoney, who refuses to cower, despite Zhang’s pressure. But the Australian is starting to initiate clinches in this round, trying to get some respite. In one moment, he backs away from Zhang, who jogs across the ring to close the space. This must be exhausting for Mahoney, but he’s still throwing, still moving, still smiling! He’s got to hope some of his body work will pay off down the stretch.
Round six
Great round! Both men throwing and landing clean shots at close range.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Ben Mahoney vs Fan Zhang
Round three
This bout is being fought at such a pace. Zhang is maintaining his pressure from round two, flicking out offence with high volume, but Mahoney is still landing the heavier punches while on the back foot. The Aussie is breathing heavily, now wincing under some of Zhang’s attacks.
But good work from Mahoney now! He puts together a slick combination while skipping around a surprisingly static Zhang. Mahoney looks to build on that, late in the round, backing the Chinese boxer up to the ropes. Zhang reverses the position, but he eats a heavy hook that staggers him! Was he hurt, or just tired?
Round four
Mahoney looks in a little trouble here, still going backwards and eating more punches than in the previous rounds. Zhang is favouring shorter, straighter punches, largely to the head; Mahoney is still picking his moments to fire off big body hooks and uppercuts upstairs. Mahoney is still very much in this, but the fight is trending in Zhang’s direction at the moment.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Ben Mahoney vs Fan Zhang
Round one
Ten rounds scheduled here. Mahoney makes a fast start, pressing forward and sending out plenty of activity. He’s varying his targets, going from head to body with heavy offence. Zhang is able to weather some of that and push back the Aussie late in the round, but Mahoney’s hooks to the body and uppercuts to the head were the story of that frame. Some great step-back crosses to the head, too, with brilliant timing.
Round two
The only potential concern for Mahoney is whether he’s overexerted himself. And early in round two, Zhang is on the front foot, pushing back the home fighter and forcing him into throwing slightly sloppier shots. But Mahoney is landing with some of them – those uppercuts in particular are still working for him. He even manages to reverse the momentum for a while, pressuring Zhang, but not for long. Still, a close round, with Mahoney landing the heavier punches.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Ben Mahoney vs Fan Zhang
Next up is a super-welterweight bout between Ben Mahoney and Fan Zhang.
Australia’s Mahoney is unbeaten at 14-0-1 (8 KOs), while China’s Zhang is 8-2-1 (5 KOs).
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Teremoana Jr blitzes past Osasu Otobo
Teremoana Jr crushes Osasu Otobo, getting a finish inside the first minute!
Otobo went after Teremoana in the opening seconds, there was a brief clinch, then Teremoana showed his superior accuracy and timing in the ensuing exchanges.
It was a left hook across the top of the dome that floored Otobo, and he was counted out by the referee while on one knee.
Teremoana Jr def. Osasu Otobo via first-round KO (0:57)
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: How to watch the event
The event will stream live on DAZN in more than 200 countries, including the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand. Viewers in Australia and New Zealand can watch the fights on DAZN pay-per-view; elsewhere, the event is covered by a DAZN subscription. Purchase a subscription to DAZN here, with plans starting at £14.99 a month.
If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Undercard results so far
The first few fights of the day are in the books!
Shauna Browne just outpointed Taylah Gentzen, staying unbeaten and handing her opponent her first pro loss.
Before that, Runqi Zhou beat Tony Ingram via decision, Jag Guthmann-Chester outpointed Jai Williams in each man’s first pro fight, Billy McAllister stopped Jordan Towns in round two, and Kodi Shallali drew with Albert Tu’ua.
Next up, Teremoana Jr puts his unbeaten record on the line against Osasu Otobo.
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE
Jai Opetaia fights on home soil today, defending the IBF cruiserweight title against David Nyika in Australia.
Both men enter the bout unbeaten, with Opetaia’s record reading 26-0 (20 knockouts) and Nyika’s standing at 10-0 (9 KOs). Opetaia, who is the favourite over the New Zealand boxer, is looking to set up a possible unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez – and even a potential heavyweight meeting with Oleksandr Usyk...
Opetaia, 29, enters this fight on the back of a stoppage win against Jack Massey in October, which followed a decision victory over Mairis Briedis – Opetaia’s second win against the former champion. In fact, Opetaia’s first fight with Briedis took place at the venue for today’s title bout: the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
In the same building where the Aussie first became a world champion, in 2022, can he keep his belt against Nyika, 29? We’ll soon find out.
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