IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and challenger David Nyika each weighed in at 199.5 lbs on Monday’s weigh-in for his or her struggle this Wednesday, January eighth, on the Gold Coast Conference Centre, Broadbeach, in Australia.
Nyika regarded well-defined, exhibiting little or no fats on his 6’6″ body. In the course of the face-off, the 2 fighters went head-to-head. It had knowledgeable wrestling-type really feel, and I used to be ready for some theatrics from the door. That was the one factor lacking.
Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) is the favourite, however Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) has an actual probability of profitable. He’s catching Jai at level in his profession after his two grueling fights towards former IBF champion Mairis Briedis. He’s been softened up. The occasion will likely be proven dwell on DAZN.
Hearn Hypes Opetaia
“David Nyika is right here to struggle. He’s among the best amateurs this a part of the world has seen for a very long time. He took the struggle on three weeks’ discover. He sees one thing. He believes, however tomorrow evening, he’s up towards an animal in Jai Opetaia. That is going to be an excellent struggle,” stated Eddie Hearn to DAZN Boxing at in the present day’s Jai Opetaia vs. David Nyika weigh-in.
“You’re promoting for what he’s. He’s an animal. He’s not going to come back out, sing you a music, and offer you a cheerful face. He simply desires to struggle,” stated Hearn to Sporting Information Australia, speaking about Opetaia. “That’s what Jai is. He’s a vicious savage. What you see is what you get, and that’s why folks like watching him struggle.
“He’s an actual champion. If you say Usyk. I don’t see any heavyweights that may beat Usyk. Perhaps Jai can’t beat Usyk, nevertheless it’s a hell of a struggle. If you have a look at Usyk changing into undisputed cruiserweight after which coming as much as heavyweight and changing into undisputed. That’s the identical aim Jai Opeptaia has,” stated Hearn.
A struggle between Opetaia and Usyk remains to be away as a result of Jai nonetheless wants to gather the opposite three belts earlier than he accomplishes his aim of changing into the undisputed cruiserweight champion. That’s going to take some time. It could be higher if Opetaia units apart his aim and strikes as much as heavyweight subsequent to problem Usyk for his three belts. He can all the time return to the division to proceed amassing all of them.
“If we will make that occur at cruiserweight, I feel it makes the Usyk struggle big. You think about the undisputed cruiserweight world champion combating the undisputed heavyweight world champion,” stated Hearn. That’s an enormous struggle. He does must get by David Nyika. It’s not going to be straightforward.”
Nyika has an actual probability of profitable this struggle if he can grasp on and make it to the second half of the competition to start out breaking Jai with strain. Opetaia’s face breaks down when he’s hit laborious lots, and he’s acquired these eye ridges that are likely to swell up when hit. If Nyika can land sufficient pictures on these eye ridges, he can reduce him and presumably rating a stoppage.
“I do know he’s an enormous favourite to do it, but when he does that, you bought to deal with the opposite champions. I feel the Zurdo struggle is an excellent struggle. Get Wednesday out of the way in which, and the aim needs to be to unify the division,” stated Hearn.
