Jai Opetaia vs David Nyika Fight Results: Opetaia Scores Crushing KO (Video)

Nyika came in as a late replacement for the number one ranked contender in the IBF rankings, Huseyin Cinkara with just three weeks’ notice. In an Australia vs. New Zealand contest, both men went toe-to-toe in a short but enthralling matchup. Nyika came out aggressively from the opening bell, which the defending champion met with a similar wildness. Nyika had some early success, catching Opetaia with a left hand to the head. Opetaia responded with a good right hand. Nyika’s wild approach saw him miss the target with right and left hands, but would land a left and right hand to the body.

Opetaia landed a left hand following a right to the head to open the second round. Nyika’s gung-ho approach was starting to unravel. Opetaia landed a leading right hand followed by a straight left, appearing to hurt Nyika. The pair continued to go at it until Nyika landed a good right hand, more than catching Opetaia’s attention to close the round. The third round saw Opetaia start to figure out his combative opponent, landing a straight right counter. The champion followed up with a powerful right hook to the head. However, Nyika would catch Opetaia’s attention again with a right hand.

Round four was all Opetaia and would see the end of the cruiserweight title fight. A straight left hand followed by a right, then another left hand saw the fight swing firmly in Opetaia’s direction. Nyika was on the canvas shortly after due to Opetaia’s right hand. Opetaia chased down Nyika as he rose to his feet with left and right hands, sinking Nyika to the canvas for the second time. The referee called off the fight with 43 seconds on the clock.

“[Gilberto] Ramirez, I’m coming for those belts,” Opetaia said in the post-fight interview on DAZN. “I’ve been waiting for these unification fights for a long time and I’m coming for my belts.” Ramirez is the current WBO cruiserweight champion after defeating Chris Billam-Smith.

Undercard 

Heavyweight Justis Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) made short work of South Africa’s Shaun Potgieter (10-2, 7 KOs) with a second-round stoppage.

Super middleweight Max McIntyre (7-0, 6 KOs) claimed a fourth-round knockout against Abdulselam Saman (8-2), who was down three times before the stoppage.

Heavyweight Olympian Teremoana Jr. (6-0, 6 KOs) continued the perfect start to his professional career with a first-round stoppage against Osasu Otobo (11-2-1, 5 KOs).

Lightweight Taylah Gentzen (6-1, 3 KOs) lost a split decision to Ireland’s Shauna Browne (5-0, 3 KOs) over ten rounds.

China’s Runqi Zhou (9-2-1, 3 KOs) claimed a unanimous decision victory against local man Tony Ingram (6-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round bout.