Jai Opetaia defeats David Nyika, reclaims IBF world cruiserweight title, looks ahead to Oleksandr Usyk

In the corner of a crowded dressing room, Jai Opetaia sat, a smile finally breaking across his face for the first time all fight week. The atmosphere was jubilant, with family, staff and followers celebrating, beer cans being cracked open, and everyone sharing their perspective on the scenes they had just witnessed.

The reason for the joy sat on the round table in front of Opetaia, the red IBF world title belt prominently displayed. And the other reason lay in his opponent’s dressing room, with a defeated David Nyika awaiting an ambulance after suffering a brutal knockout.

Jai Opetaia had successfully defended his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight world titles with a fourth-round knockout of David Nyika. Boxing powerbroker Eddie Hearn was already looking to the future, stating that “in the next 12-18 months, Opetaia is the only fighter who can give Usyk a real challenge.”

Hearn outlined Opetaia’s immediate plans: “The short-term goal is to pick up another belt as soon as possible, the medium-term goal is to get all the other belts in the division, and the long-term goal? Why not? Is to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight title.” He also hoped His Excellency Turki Alalshikh could help facilitate the bout.

While Hearn spoke to the media, Opetaia remained in the corner, still in his underwear, smiling at the well-wishers and processing the victory in his own way. The complex machinations of boxing were not his concern, he was simply focused on the win. “I don’t pick opponents,” Opetaia said, “I just fight. Whoever they put in front of me, I’ll fight them.”

Opetaia stated he was chasing unification, but if someone was put in front of him, he would not turn it down either. “If that happens, that happens. We’ll certainly go for it. But we are chasing unification, otherwise it’s all just fairytales,” he added. “I respect every fighter, I’m not trying to disrespect anyone, I’m just trying to move forward and level up.”

The packed Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre had just witnessed a shocking and brutal contest, one that will long live in the memories of all those in attendance. David Nyika had given Opetaia a massive challenge, attacking at every opportunity, pushing the pace and pressure on Opetaia. At the end of the second and third rounds, Opetaia had clearly been tagged by the challenger, and had to hang tough, despite landing the majority of the most threatening punches.

“I think everyone was shocked at the way he came out,” Opetaia said. “Even my old man was like, ‘You guys are in a war.’ He came out swinging, he hit me with some good shots, I hit him back, it was good. We built this fight up, he had a lot to say, and to be honest, I thought it was all rubbish. But he showed some heart and I respect him for that.”

While Opetaia was accepting congratulations in his crowded room, a more somber mood hung in the air down the hall. Only the closest members of Nyika’s team remained in his room as the 29-year-old was experiencing the aftermath of a brutal knockout. An ambulance had slowly made its way inside the Convention and Exhibition Centre, while the crowd poured into the nearby casino for the after party. This was the unseen price behind the entertainment they had witnessed, a price that barely registered in the minds of most.

Nyika had shown his durability throughout the fight, constantly coming forward, taking some punishing blows and trying to fire back, never taking a backward step. It must have been his game plan, from the first bell, Nyika went straight at Opetaia. But in the fourth round, it all fell apart. An uppercut dropped him for the first time, a punch that had both power and malice, stunning the 29-year-old. He bravely rose to his feet, but Opetaia had his chance.

A right hand pushed the New Zealander back to the ropes. A follow-up left hand then knocked him out cold, his right arm limply draped over the ropes. The referee was there, but may not have noticed Nyika’s condition. Opetaia did not wait, and another left hand landed on his grounded opponent’s head with sickening force. Nyika went down, and stayed there for an agonizing minute after minute. Seconds turned into minutes, and the concern grew for the man who had been so full of life just moments ago, and was now lying like a broken shell on the floor.

This was the other side of the victor’s revelry, the other side of the priceless sport of boxing, the price paid by the vanquished. This was the price demanded by the most primal of sports, a price brutally extracted by those with other goals to achieve. “I respect David, I hope he’s okay,” Opetaia said in his room. “He’s a great fighter. I don’t think people will give him the credit he deserves because of the way we just fought. He’s a great fighter, David? Thank you brother, I appreciate it.”