David Nyika and Blake Caparello face-off throughout the David Nyika Highway to the Title Opponent Announcement Photograph Alternative and Press Convention at SkyCity Tower and SkyCity Grand Resort. 10 July 2024 © Copyright photograph: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
David Nyika will encounter a former title challenger for his first DAZN headliner.
The 2020 Olympic Bronze medalist is ready to face Australia’s Blake Caparello in a scheduled twelve-round cruiserweight contest. The matchup was confirmed throughout a press convention held Wednesday to formally announce the Sept. 14 DAZN occasion at Viaduct Occasions Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.
“David should show that he’s a lower above those who have gone down this path earlier than,” stated David Higgins, Nyika’s promoter. “Boxing aficionados had large wraps on guys like Robbie ‘The Butcher’ Berridge, Dan MacKinnon and Reece Papanui and people guys ended up being completely outclassed.
“[Caparello] took on probably the most feared fighters of a era in Sergey Kovalev and sat him on his bottom within the opening spherical.”
The exhausting promote however, Nyika (9-0, 8 knockouts) is now introduced together with his most notable title so far. The unbeaten New Zealander—now based mostly in Queensland—has but to be prolonged past the fifth spherical. He took out former secondary titlist Robert Berridge (30-11-1, 22 KOs) inside three rounds in what was meant as a step up final November.
In his most up-to-date begin, Nyika stopped Michael Seitz within the fourth spherical on the Might 18 Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury undercard in Riyadh. He now expects a extra formidable problem for his first battle in Auckland since his Feb. 2021 professional debut.
“No disrespect to any of these Kiwi boys who took on Caparello and obtained crushed,” Nyika stated. “They’re all nice fighters in their very own proper – however none of them are me. To me, Blake Caparello is simply one other step on the street to a world title.”
Caparello (32-4-1, 15 KOs), 37, has solely been stopped as soon as in 37 professional fights.
It got here in his Aug. 2014 WBO 175-pound title problem versus Kovalev, whom he dropped within the first spherical. Kovalev stormed again to cease Caparello within the second spherical of their battle of unbeaten mild heavyweights.
Caparello enters using a modest two-fight win streak as he steps again properly up in competitors. The battle takes place a full division previous his efficient weight however feels it’s Nyika who’s in over his head.
“Nyika is untested as an expert, he hasn’t gone previous 5 rounds but,” said Caparello. “I’ve been 10 and 12 rounds greater than a dozen instances towards the world’s finest. I’ve headlined reveals on ESPN and HBO in America.
“Let’s see what he’s obtained when the going will get powerful.”
The battle is the primary beneath a multi-fight take care of DAZN by way of Duco Occasions, Thornberry Promotions and Parker Promotions. The latter entity is headed by former WBO heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker, the present interim titleholder who makes his promotional debut.
