David Nyika is looking to dethrone IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia on January 8 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia and so the towering 6'6" Nyika, 29, believes he’s got the formula - pressure and power - to deliver Opetaia his first career loss.
Nyika isn’t shy about spelling out his plan: hit Opetaia hard, keep the aggression constant, and deny him any chance to breathe. Some critics say Opetaia takes a page from Dmitry Bivol’s more cautious style, which can falter under pressure. The contender aims to exploit that potential weakness, drawing parallels to moments where Opetaia looked vulnerable in his two fights with Mairis Briedis.
Watch Opetaia vs. Massey highlights: Watch
"I’m a completely new animal," Nyika told Matchroom Boxing. "He’s the king of the cruiserweights right now, but I’m here to shock the world."
Meanwhile, promoter Eddie Hearn is hopeful Opetaia can hold off Nyika to move on to even bigger fights, like a potential showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in 2025. But first, Nyika is determined to play spoiler. If he can keep Opetaia under constant fire, he just might take the IBF (and Ring) cruiserweight belts back home, giving us first big upset to kick off 2025.
Prepare for the upcoming bout here.
Image Credit: DAZN