By: Sean Crose
The ten-0 David Niyka walked into the ring in Australia on Wednesday hoping to elevate the IBF cruiserweight title from the extremely lauded, 26-0 Jai Opetaia. It merely wasn’t meant to be. The taller Niyka began off aggressively within the first, flicking a powerful jab in addition to overhand rights and lefts to the physique. For his personal half, the defending champion remained assured of his expertise, measuring his opponent in order that when he landed, he landed with impact. Certainly, Opetaia’s left thundered dwelling within the last seconds of the spherical.
The second noticed Niyka land a strong flash uppercut. Opetaia, nevertheless, began to dominate the vary. He additionally landed nicely whereas in shut with the assured challenger. Certain sufficient, Opetaia nailed Niyka with a potent left. He discovered a house for that left increasingly more ceaselessly because the spherical wore on. Opetaia certainly appeared to have maybe taken management of the combat. By the tip of the third, Niyka was throwing much less ceaselessly than he had been. Nonetheless, it was a professional battle that was being waged within the ring. In truth, Niyka was in a position to tag Opeaia in the direction of the bell.
Not that it finally mattered, for issues got here to a violent finish within the fourth. The primary thirty seconds of the spherical had been goal observe for the champion. It was clear he wished to finish the combat early. A frighteningly highly effective uppercut despatched the challenger down with a bit over a minute left within the chapter. Niyka bravely received to his toes, however he ought to have stayed down. As soon as the ref waved Opataia ahead, the defending champion had homicide in his eyes. He stepped to Niyka and subsequently carried out a Jack Demspey to the challenger’s Jess Willard.
The referee properly stopped the combat earlier than Niyka hit the might, however the challenger laid flat on his again for a number of minutes surrounded by officers. Thankfully, Nikya was finally in a position to get again to his toes and stroll out of the ring. It had all been a daunting factor to observe. Then once more, boxing is a daunting sport. “He took the combat on three weeks discover,” Opetaia mentioned of his fallen opponent afterward. “He got here right here to combat…I take my hat off to David.” A category conclusion to a violent affair. Now the query is whether or not or not Opetaia is ready to unify your entire cruiserweight division.
“Ramirez,” Opetai known as kiddingly in a sing-song voice to fellow cruiserweight titlist Zurdo Ramirez, “we’re coming for the belts.”
