Opetaia vs Nyika: All-Action From Australia on Wednesday, DAZN

IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia of Queensland, Australia, got used to being a road warrior. We don’t mean a Mad Max sort of road warrior, but he’s just as fierce as the famous character.

Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) gets to enjoy his first title defense at home in two and a half years on Wednesday, January 8 against challenger David Nyika of New Zealand (10-0, 9 KOs), at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Center in Broadbeach. It’s an early wakeup call for American fans, who can watch the entire card on DAZN starting at 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT.

Both men weighed in at 199.5 pounds, just under the 200-pound cruiserweight division limit.

After the weigh-in, Nyika told fans, “Get your popcorn ready. It’s going to be a show!”

Opetaia followed up with, “He’s ready. I’m ready. Let’s fight!”

Opetaia Tops The Cruiserweight Division

Jack Massey’s courage was no match for Jai Opetaia’s offense in October. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions

Opetaia stakes his claim as the top-ranked cruiserweight in the world when he defeated Marius Breidis, winning a unanimous decision. The bruising fight left Opetaia with a broken jaw and the respect of the fans for his toughness. After two defenses, Opetaia won by an even greater margin against Breidis in the rematch last May in Riyadh.

Since then, Opetaia has been scoring solid victories in action-packed fights for as long as they last, stopping three of his last four opponents.

Now the 29-year-old southpaw Opetaia plans to give his local fans a show against an opponent he knows well in Nyika, a former sparring partner. Nyika was called on to replace injured mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara of Turkey (22-0, 18 KOs).

David Nyika stepped in and upgraded interest in the fight against Jai Opetaia. Photo: Tasman Fighters

While Cinkara’s record looks solid, he hasn’t faced high-level opposition. All his fights have taken place on minor European cards, primarily in Turkey and Germany. Not a household word at the championship level, to be sure.

Opetaia has faced opponents with plenty of power but has never been knocked down as a professional. Even after suffering a broken jaw in his first fight with Breidis, Opetaia showed mind-blowing toughness.

When Opetaia says he’s not concerned about Nyika’s knockout power, you’re inclined to believe him.

“I know I can knock him out, I know I can hurt him You want to have a gun fight? Let’s have a gun fight,” said Opetaia at this week’s final news conference. But Opetaia needled Nyika that it wouldn’t happen.

“But I know it’s not going to be a gunfight, you’re going to box you don’t want to get hit. So let’s go then, let’s play it.”

Nyika Betting On Himself

David Nyika deserves applause for betting on himself. Photo: Tasman Fighters

Although no one ever likes to see a fighter injured, with Nyika stepping in, the fans get a far better matchup. National pride and bragging rights are on the line between a pro at the peak of his career and an ambitious young challenger betting on himself.

It’s a big step up for Nyika, an accomplished amateur who won an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo. Nyika says he understands what’s ahead of him.

“We’ve shared very competitive rounds, but I think sparring is very different,” said Nyika.”But come fight night it’s going to be whatever happens happens, but I truly believe the fans are going to get a really good show.”

Nyika’s amateur career gives him a solid skills foundation, and he says he’ll be ready for whatever Opetaia offers.

“This is not the kind of sport where you can just go in with one game plan. This is not tiddlywinks, it is not checkers, it is chess,” explained Nyika.

“I can’t predict this fight because I know how tough you (Opetaia) are and what you are prepared to go through to get the win, and I’m prepared to do the same.”

Nyika is coming off a knockout victory in Auckland over American Tommy Karpency last September, dropping Karpency twice before Karpency’s team threw in the towel at 1:13 of the third round.

Prediction: Opetaia By Late Stoppage

Jai Opetaia is the current class of the surging cruiserweight division. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn, promoting the fight in conjunction with Tasman Fighters of Australia, said at Tuesday’s weigh-in, “These are the kind of fights you’ll see the very best of a guy like David Nyika. Until you step up the levels, you never know. Tomorrow night is the night you find out how great you really are.”

Nyika is riding a seven-fight knockout streak and, like Opetaia, is undefeated. But he lacks the experience as a professional on the world stage enjoyed by Opetaia, who perfected his craft in a slew of early fights against domestic talent in Australia before showing the world his power and determination.

We can’t praise Nyika enough for betting on himself. It didn’t hurt Canelo Alvarez to do the same early in his career against Floyd Mayweather, and the lessons he learned from that loss made him a better fighter and a multiple-division undisputed world champion.

Still, never count out a puncher. Ask Bruno Serace about that. Nyika should give Opetaia a decent test and they’ll put on a thrilling show to start the 2025 boxing year. But Opetaia is the odds-on favorite for a reason.

The winner is likely to fight WBO World Cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez of Mexico. It would be one of the most exciting cruiserweight showdowns in a decade.

Heavyweight Undercard Fights To Watch

A pair of Australian heavyweights will be worth getting up early for American fans to watch.

Justis Huni is a heavyweight prospect to watch. Photo: Tasman Fighters

Prospect Justis Huni of Brisbane (11-0, 6 KOs) is drawing attention after decision wins over veterans Andrew Tabiti and Kevin Lerena. Huni blasted through Leandro Daniel Robutti of Argentina in two rounds less than a month ago, allowing him to return for this huge hometown card.

The 25-year-old Huni will defend his regional WBO Global and IBF Pan Pacific heavyweight titles against Shaun Potgieter of South Africa (10-1, 7 KOs). Huni weighed in at 241 pounds, Potgieter at 251 pounds.

Teremoana Junior returns for his 2025 campaign against Osasu Otobo of Germany. Photo: Tasman Fighters

Heavyweight showman Teremoana Junior of Brisbane (5-0, 5 KOs) gets his 2025 campaign started against Osasu Otobo of Germany (11-1, 5 KOs).

“Like with every other opponent, I’m going to get in there and smash him,” said the charismatic and fun-loving Teremoana, who is 6-7 and weighed in at 266.75 pounds to 284.75 pounds for Otobo.

“I think he’s about the same size as me … doesn’t really matter to be honest, just another piece of meat in the ring.

“He’s got to worry about me. I’ve got the attributes of a champion. No one my size can move like I can move. I’ve got the speed, I’ve got the power,” said Teremoana, who’s been a frequent sparring partner for Opetaia, Joseph Parker, and Tyson Fury. “What you can expect from me is moving with style.

Teremoana, who narrowly lost in the Round of 16 at the Paris Olympics to eventual gold medalist Bahkmir Jalolov, hasn’t gotten past two rounds in his first five pro fights. Expect the same against Otobo, who was stopped in his single loss.