David Nyika

Last updated

David Nyika
Born (1995-08-07) 7 August 1995 (age 30)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Statistics
Weight(s) Cruiserweight
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Reach79 in (201 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights12
Wins11
Wins by KO10
Losses1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2020 Tokyo Heavyweight
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2014 Glasgow Light heavyweight
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2018 Gold Coast Heavyweight

David Kieran Nyika (born 7 August 1995) is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as competing at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. [1] [2] [3] [4] Nyika and Sarah Hirini were the New Zealand flag bearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics. [5] [6] Nyika gained significant media attention after an incident during the Round of 16 at the 2020 Summer Olympics in which Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempted to bite Nyika's ear. [7] [8] [9] [10]

Contents

Amateur career

2020 Summer Olympics

On July 27, 2021, Nyika won a Round of 16 match against Moroccan Youness Baalla in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. In what was described by commentators as a "disgraceful act", during the third round, Baalla attempted to bite Nyika. [11] The biting incident overshadowed the competition as New Zealand media reported that it "marred" Nyika's Olympic debut. [12] The incident drew comparisons to Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield's 1997 fight in which Tyson repeatedly bit Holyfield's ear. [13]

On August 3, 2021, David Nyika won a bronze medal after being defeated in the men's heavyweight semifinal against Russian Olympic Committee's Muslim Gadzhimagomedov. [14]

Commonwealth Game results

Glasgow 2014

Gold Coast 2018

World Championship results

Hamburg 2017

Yekaterinburg 2019

Olympic Games results

Tokyo 2020

Professional career

On 26 January 2021, it was announced that Nyika would make his professional debut against Jesse Maio on the undercard of Joseph Parker vs. Junior Fa at Spark Arena on 27 February 2021. [15] [16] The bout would end in strange fashion as following a big right hand landed by Nyika that floored Maio, Maio would protest that the punch landed behind the head. Despite protestations from Maio that he had been hit behind the head, Nyika was awarded the win just 29 seconds into the opening round. [17]

Following his bronze medal winning performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics Nyika would relocate to Morecambe, England in preparation for his second pro bout and would begin training under former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee and would train alongside reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. [18] He would make his UK debut against Frenchman Anthony Carpin on the undercard of the rematch between Joseph Parker vs. Dereck Chisora at AO Arena in Manchester on 18 December 2021. Nyika would progress to 2–0 dominating Carpin throughout the initial three minutes and when the bell rang to end the opening round, Carpin would retire on his stool complaining about a left elbow injury. [19]

Nyika's next outing would be involved in a crowd-pleasing five-round scrap with Karim Maatalla on the undercard of George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney on 5 June 2022. Nyika showcased some of the skills that helped him win Olympic bronze and two Commonwealth Games golds as he out-fought the game Maatalla over five rounds to win 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47 on the judges scorecards. Speaking on his performance after the fight, Nyika said, "Realistically, I'd give it like a C−, It was exactly what I needed. I needed some tough opposition, someone who can actually take the shots as well as give them back." [20]

Nyika challenged IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on the Gold Coast in Australia on 8 January 2025, but lost the fight by knockout in the fourth round. [21] [22] [23] [24]

Professional boxing record

11 fights10 wins1 loss
By knockout91
By decision10
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
12Win11–1Nikolas CharalampousTKO6 (12)16 July 2025Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park
11Loss10–1 Jai Opetaia KO4 (12)8 Jan 2025Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, AustraliaFor IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles
10Win10–0 Tommy Karpency TKO3 (10), 1:1315 Sep 2024 Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland, New ZealandRetained IBF Inter-Continental cruiserweight title;
Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title
9Win9–0Michael SeitzTKO4 (10), 2:45 18 May 2024 Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental cruiserweight title
8Win8–0 Robert Berridge TKO3 (8), 1:003 Nov 2023Gatton Shire Hall, Gatton, Australia
7Win7–0Waikato FalefehiTKO2 (8), 2:1428 July 2023Gatton Shire Hall, Gatton, Australia
6Win6–0Louis MarstersTKO4 (5), 2:2224 May 2023 Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia
5Win5–0Titi MotusagaKO2 (6), 2:35 16 Oct 2022 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
4Win4–0Louis MarstersTKO2 (4), 0:592 Jul 2022 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia
3Win3–0Karim MaatallaUD5 5 Jun 2022 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
2Win2–0Anthony CarpinRTD1 (4), 3:00 18 Dec 2021 AO Arena, Manchester, England
1Win1–0Jesse MaioKO1 (6), 0:29 27 Feb 2021 Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand

References

  1. ↑ "The Top Boxing Prospects from the 2014 Commonwealth Games". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "NZ fans spur Nyika to boxing gold". RNZ . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Kiwi heavyweight boxer David Nyika ousted from world championships in controversial decision". Stuff . Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "Jerome Pampellone stars at World Championships, David Nyika sent packing". Stuff . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Tokyo Olympics 2020: New Zealand's last-minute flagbearer change as Olympics officially begin with opening ceremony". The New Zealand Herald . 23 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Tokyo Olympics: Schedule change calls Kiwi rowing eights into early Games action". Newshub . Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "Tokyo Olympics: David Nyika cruises into quarterfinals after attempted bite from Morocco's Youness Baalla". Stuff . 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "David Nyika on receiving end of bite attempt in Olympic boxing debut". RNZ . 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "Rival attempts bite on Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika". TVNZ. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempts to bite New Zealand's David Nyika | NBC Olympics". NBC Olympics. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Boxing-New Zealand's Nyika bitten but not beaten on Games debut". Reuters. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Tokyo Olympics 2020: Boxing – Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika's Games win marred by disgraceful act". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "He bit his ear! Boxer's outrageous Mike Tyson move". AdelaideNow. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Kiwi boxer David Nyika wins bronze after semifinal defeat". TVNZ. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa: As Tokyo Olympics uncertainty continues, David Nyika finds opponent for pro debut". Stuff . Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Kiwi boxer David Nyika confident of crushing victory on professional debut". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  17. ↑ "Boxing: David Nyika beats Jesse Maio in professional debut after bizarre 28-second TKO". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "Boxer David Nyika heading to UK to join Parker, Fury camp". 1News . Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Boxing: Olympic star David Nyika shows professional potential with convincing win on Parker-Chisora undercard". Newshub . Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "David Nyika eyes another fight before Commonwealth Games". Stuff . Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  21. ↑ "Champion Opetaia stops Nyika with highlight-reel knockout". BBC Sport. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  22. ↑ "Jai Opetaia finishes David Nyika in brutal fashion to retain his cruiserweight title". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  23. ↑ "Jai Opetaia knocks David Nyika out cold to defend IBF title". Boxing News Online. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  24. ↑ "Jai Opetaia knocks out David Nyika with huge left hand in round four to retain IBF title". DAZN. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for New Zealand
Tokyo 2020
With: Sarah Hirini 		Succeeded by
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