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: Main-event report
Jai Opetaia scores vicious KO of David Nyika as focus turns to Ramirez and Usyk
Opetaia retained the IBF cruiserweight title inside four rounds, before promoter Eddie Hearn addressed the Australian’s next steps
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Is the champion a pound-for-pound talent?
Does Opetaia deserve a spot in the pound-for-pound rankings?
Keep an eye on our own list in the coming days...
Who’s really the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world?
Here are The Independent’s rankings for top 10 men’s boxers
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Opetaia vs Nyika LIVE: Aussie retains title with vicious KO
Hearn: “I think Jai’s humble enough to not yet talk about the name of Oleksandr Usyk; I’m not.
“Jai is gonna pick up all the belts in the cruiserweight division to become undisputed, and then we want to push him into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk – try to become undisputed in the heavyweight division as well.
“You have to search for greatness, he’s good enough to do it. I believe he’s the only person right now, cruiserweight or heavyweight, that can genuinely give Usyk a real, real fight. But to do it, we’ve got to pick up every belt in the cruiserweight division first.”
Hearn then turns focus to Opetaia vs Ramirez, calling on the latter’s promoter – Oscar De La Hoya – to help get it done.
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