David Nyika | |
---|---|
Born | Hamilton, New Zealand | 7 August 1995
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Cruiserweight |
Height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) |
Reach | 79 in (201 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 9 |
Wins | 9 |
Wins by KO | 8 |
Medal record |
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]
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]
Glasgow 2014
Gold Coast 2018
Hamburg 2017
Yekaterinburg 2019
Tokyo 2020
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 an 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 is scheduled to headline a DAZN PPV card at Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland, New Zealand on September 14, 2024. [21] [22]
9 fights | 9 wins | 0 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 8 | 0 |
By decision | 1 | 0 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Win | 9–0 | Michael Seitz | TKO | 4 (10), 2:45 | 18 May 2024 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental cruiserweight title |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Robert Berridge | TKO | 3 (8), 1:00 | 3 Nov 2023 | Gatton Shire Hall, Gatton, Australia | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | Waikato Falefehi | TKO | 2 (8), 2:14 | 28 July 2023 | Gatton Shire Hall, Gatton, Australia | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Louis Marsters | TKO | 4 (5), 2:22 | 24 May 2023 | Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Titi Motusaga | KO | 2 (6), 2:35 | 16 Oct 2022 | Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Louis Marsters | TKO | 2 (4), 0:59 | 2 Jul 2022 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Karim Maatalla | UD | 5 | 5 Jun 2022 | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Anthony Carpin | RTD | 1 (4), 3:00 | 18 Dec 2021 | AO Arena, Manchester, England | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Jesse Maio | KO | 1 (6), 0:29 | 27 Feb 2021 | Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand |
Faumuina To'aletai Mafaufau David Tua, best known as David Tua, is a Samoan-New Zealand former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2013. A highly ranked heavyweight contender for most of his career, Tua was known for his formidable punching power, especially in his devastating left hook. He will make his return against YouTube Star Jake Paul on 20th July, replacing the injured Mike Tyson. He scored sixteen wins by knockout in the first round, which included knockouts of world heavyweight champions John Ruiz and Michael Moorer within thirty seconds of the first round, as well as late stoppages of world champions Oleg Maskaev and Hasim Rahman. He was ranked by BoxRec in the world's top 10 heavyweights from 1996 to 2003, reaching his highest ranking of No.3 in 1998. Tua ended his career with a knockout-to-win ratio of 82.6%. In a 2003 article by The Ring magazine, Tua was ranked 48th on a list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.
Shane Aaron Cameron is a New Zealand professional boxer. He is a former Commonwealth cruiserweight champion, having also held several regional titles at heavyweight. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Outside of boxing, he placed fifth in the 2015 series of Dancing With the Stars New Zealand.
Armand Carlos Netsing Takam is a Cameroonian French professional boxer. He has challenged once for the unified WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles in 2017. As an amateur, he represented Cameroon at the 2004 Olympics.
David Price is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2009 to 2019. At regional level, he held multiple heavyweight championships, including the British and Commonwealth titles from 2012 to 2013, and challenged once for the European title in 2015. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and 2008 EU Championships, and three ABA titles; all in the super-heavyweight division.
Dean Robert Lonergan is a former New Zealand boxing promoter and rugby league player. With Duco founder David Higgins, Lonergan had success promoting world champion boxers Joseph Parker and Jeff Horn. With his son Liam, he promoted Jai Opetaia, Lani Daniels and Mea Motu
Joseph Dennis Parker, OM is a New Zealand professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight title since March 2024. Previously, he held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the WBO Oriental, Africa, and Oceania titles; as well as the PABA, OPBF, and New Zealand titles. As an amateur, he represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the super-heavyweight division, and narrowly missed qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Hughie Lewis Fury is a British professional boxer. He challenged once for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title in 2017, and at regional level held the British heavyweight title in 2018. As an amateur he represented England at the 2012 Youth World Championships, winning a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division and becoming the first British boxer to do so.
David Light is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he competed in the men's heavyweight division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he won the silver medal against Canada's Samir El-Mais. Professionally, Light is a former WBO World Crusierweight title contender, where he fought Lawrence Okolie in March 2023.
Joe Joyce is a British professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight title from 2022 to 2023. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the Commonwealth title twice between 2018 and 2021; the British title from 2020 to 2022; and the European title from 2020 to 2021.
Reece Papuni is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he reached the quarterfinals of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Uaine Fa Junior is a New Zealand former professional boxer. As an amateur he represented Tonga at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the super-heavyweight division; he also represented Tonga at the Oceania Championships, winning gold and multiple silver medals. His knockout-to-win percentage stood at 53%.
Demsey McKean is an Australian professional boxer, former mixed martial arts fighter and former Muay Thai fighter.
Patrick Pakuliki Mailata is a Samoan born, New Zealand raised professional boxer. As an amateur, he won three New Zealand national elite championships from 2012 to 2014 and a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Muslim Gamzatovich Gadzhimagomedov is a Russian professional boxer. As an amateur, Gadzhimagomedov won a gold medal at the 2019 World Championships and 2019 European Games. Gadzhimagomedov also won silver medals at both the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2017 European Championships.
Joseph Parker vs. Junior Fa was a heavyweight professional boxing match contested between former WBO champion Joseph Parker and WBO Oriental interim champion Junior Fa. The bout took place on 27 February 2021, at the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. The event was co-promoted by David Higgins of Duco Events, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment, and was considered a history making moment and New Zealand's next "Fight of the Century".
Youness Baalla is a Moroccan boxer. He competed in the men's heavyweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
John Kevin Alipate Ahio, known professionally as Hemi Ahio, is a New Zealand born Tongan professional boxer.
Jerome Mandela Joseph-Pampellone is an English born, New Zealand raised professional boxer. He participated in the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships as an amateur and won three New Zealand national elite championships between 2018 and 2020. Pampellone narrowly missed qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics after failing to place at the Olympic Qualification Tournament for 2020 in Asia and Oceania.
Christopher Bruce Martin was a New Zealand boxing manager and trainer. He trained many boxers including two of David Tua's fights in 2011, Joseph Parker's debut and first fight in Australia, Mea Motu during her amateur career, Geovana Peres for her two world title fights in 2019, Michelle Preston for her world title fight in 2012, and Daniella Smith.
Isaac Peach is a New Zealand retired professional boxer, a current boxing coach and owner of Peach Boxing. Peach trained multiple talented boxers including IBO World Champion Mea Motu, World title contender David Light, World ranked Andrei Mikhailovich and World ranked Jerome Pampellone. Peach is well known to have the philosophy in his gym to have his boxers take on any opponent. Peach Boxing Gym is considered the best boxing gym in New Zealand, rivaling the status of City Kickboxing in MMA.