IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia informed challenger David Nyika that he’d bought a picture in his head that he’s some “indestructible dude,” and that’s not the case. Opetaia admits that he’s not indestructible, so he works so arduous to “degree up.”
Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) will face Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) this Wednesday evening within the 12-round predominant occasion on the Gold Coast Conference Centre, Broadbeach, Australia. The occasion can be proven stay on DAZN. Nyika could be one of the best fighter Jai, 29, to have fought earlier than throughout his 10-year skilled profession.
Opetaia needs to struggle Oleksandr Usyk, and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has already began early campaigning to make that struggle occur. Usyk would entertain it, however it’s questionable whether or not he could be keen to return to cruiserweight to make it occur.
The “Indestructible” Phantasm
“He beat, I wouldn’t say, a washed-up Mairis Briedis, however he wasn’t the fighter that he was. I do know the fellows that you simply’ve fought since then, the likes of Jordan Thompson and Jack Massey. Each of these guys went in with little to no recreation plan. That’s poor follow and poor efficiency,” mentioned David Nyika to DAZN Boxing, speaking about Jai Opetaia’s weak resume.
“I’d say you get the bounce on folks, and that’s a credit score to your self, however these guys didn’t have a plan B. They went in with little or no concept of what they had been stepping in with. Me myself, I do know what you are able to do. I do know you may damage me.
“This isn’t a recreation, and I’m going to should put my greatest foot ahead to beat the likes of Jai as a result of, in the meanwhile, he looks as if an indestructible power, however I’m going to show everyone fallacious,” mentioned Nyika.
The reality is that Opetaia has fought solely an over-the-hill Mairis Briedis throughout his profession. The remainder of the fellows Jai has fought had been lesser fighters, like Jack Massey, Jordan Thompson, and Ellis Zorro.
Overrated Champion?
He can punch, however he’s nowhere close to nice and never on the extent of Oleksandr Usyk or Evander Holyfield after they each fought at cruiserweight. Opetaia is a primary one-armed puncher. If somebody stands as much as him, like Briedis did of their rematch final yr, he runs.
“I’m not occupied with outdated fights. I’m leveling up; I’m wanting ahead. That’s it,” mentioned Jai Opetaia, reacting to being informed that Briedis was not fairly a washed-up fighter, however not what he as soon as was when he fought him.
“You bought this factor in your head that I’m this indestructible dude. I do know I’m not. That’s what retains me on my recreation on a regular basis. I do know I’ve bought to maintain leveling up,” mentioned Opetaia.
Nyika might have been simply blowing smoke up Opetaia’s bottom by telling him that he views him as “indestructible” as a result of they had been face-to-face throughout DAZN’s interview. So, it’s not like Nyika was going to let him know what he actually thinks about him.
He’s not the kind of confrontational that will do this, however it doesn’t matter. He’s going to struggle as arduous as he can, and if he can out-last Opetaia, he’ll win. In Jai’s two fights in opposition to a light 39-year-old Mairis Briedis, he suffered a number of facial accidents and was pressured to run within the second contest to maintain from being knocked out. If an outdated Briedis might do this to Opetaia, Nyika can, too.
