Jai Opetaia – Return of a Champion

Return of the Champion: Australia’s top boxer and King of the Cruiserweights, Jai Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs), returns home to defend his IBF and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Titles against undefeated Kiwi challenger David Nyika (10-0, 9 KO’s). The showdown takes place January 8, 2025 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Not in a million years did anyone anticipate we’d end up here, but gee I’m excited we have. Fighters falling off cards is common in the world of boxing but rarely if ever do you get a replacement bout with 10 times the excitement and anticipation as the original.

Until now.. A surging Kiwi Superstar vs the King of Australian Boxing!

We know Jai Opetaia is the best Cruiserweight in the world. He’s skilful, powerful, durable and as the record reflects, unbeatable. David ‘Nice Guy’ Nyika suggests otherwise. Nyika has dismantled all opponents on his way to his own unblemished 10-0 record and while always destined to be in this position, the question is, is it too soon? Nyika doesn’t think so.

The two fighters know each other and have sparred together in the past with varyingly different recollections of those sessions. Opetaia will walk into the ring as the favourite and has earnt that right but a fighter with the prospects of David Nyika doesn’t take this fight unless he knows he can win.

Its Boxing’s Bledisloe Cup… but in the 90s when it was competitive.

With an undercard that includes Huni, Mahoney & Aokuso this event has turned into one of greatest boxing cards to happen on Australian Soil in many years.