David Nyika believes IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia isn’t as unbeatable as some claim. The two will lock horns this Wednesday at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia, live on DAZN, with Nyika confident he can outlast a champion many feel has faced only faded opponents.
Nyika points to Opetaia’s two battles against Mairis Briedis, insisting the 39-year-old Latvian wasn’t at his best. He also notes names like Jordan Thompson and Jack Massey, whom he feels posed limited threats. Far from the “indestructible” image Opetaia has built, Nyika plans to expose him by taking his shots and fighting at a pace Jai can’t handle.
Watch the face-off here: Watch
Opetaia, for his part, acknowledges he’s no superhero. He says that knowledge pushes him to improve and remain focused. Still, critics question whether Jai has shown enough to handle someone like Nyika, who’s hungry, undefeated, and aims to prove his well-rounded skills against a champion who’s been accused of selective matchmaking.
If Nyika has it his way, he’ll take this fight into deep waters and see how Opetaia responds when the going gets tough. With both men stepping up to their biggest test yet, we’ll find out if Opetaia remains the top force at cruiserweight - or if Nyika becomes the new name everyone’s talking about.
Image Credit: DAZN