Eddie Hearn thinks Jai Opetaia can knockout David Nyika inside three rounds on Wednesday evening if the challenger stands and fights when coping with the IBF cruiserweight champion on the Gold Coast Conference Centre, Broadbeach, Australia.
Hearn sees the battle’s final result as much as Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs). If he assaults his substitute opponent Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) at full drive inside the primary three rounds, he’ll haven’t any selection however to brawl. When that occurs, Hearn expects Opetaia to be an excessive amount of for the lanky 6’6″ stork.
Weight Drained Champion
Eddie fails to say how drained and worn-looking Opetaia appeared on the weigh-in. He seemed worn out from making weight, and it’s fairly clear he’s placing himself by means of pure hell to make the cruiserweight restrict.
Opetaia is a small heavyweight with the identical measurement as Oleksandr Usyk, and that’s the place he must be combating at this level in his profession. He’s outgrown the cruiserweight division, and it’s taking lots out of him to make weight to remain there.
Nyika might make the most of a drained Opetaia on Wednesday evening and end the job that Mairis Briedis began final Could. Opetaia obtained the dwelling daylights overwhelmed out of him by Briedis, and was compelled to flee within the championship rounds to maintain from being knocked out.
Nyika is the primary world degree fighter that Opetaia has fought because the Briedis battle, and he might collapse if he’s compelled to battle arduous in each spherical.
“There’s Nyika within the head-to-head, asking Jai Opetaia how his 18-hour flight to Saudi Arabia. Don’t overlook he was there a few weeks in the past for the massive battle. This can be a critical battle,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing, speaking about Wednesday’s conflict between IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and David Nyika.
“This can be a huge battle on the world degree. It’s the most effective fights, if not the most effective battle within the cruiserweight division. The one battle within the cruiserweight division higher than that is Opetaia towards Zurdo Ramirez. If Jai Opetaia is overlooking Nyika or if he’s not switched on and he’s not ready, he’s going to have his palms full tomorrow evening.
“A lot goes to be determined in these early rounds when Nyika first will get touched by these small gloves by Jai Opetaia. I feel it’s going to swimsuit Nyika the longer the battle goes, however Nyika goes to unravel actual fast in there. You’ve seen so many guys with out the expertise to go in there,” mentioned Hearn.
Nyika might not unravel as a result of he’s combating a man that’s killing himself to make the cruiserweight restrict and has been by means of two critical wars with Mairis Briedis in 2022 and 2024. Each of these fights had been grueling ones for Opetaia, with him taking extra punishment than he had in any of his earlier fights throughout his 10-year professional profession.
Opetaia’s handlers have fed him a whole lot of gentle lower-level opposition to construct him up. So, he doesn’t have the expertise that Hearn is banging on about within the professional sport. It’s simply the 2 fights towards Briedis, which had been pure hell for him. He was fortunate that he fought the Latvian on the finish of his profession fairly than throughout his prime. Briedis confirmed that Opetaia isn’t the nice expertise that Hearn and others are touting him to be.
“As soon as Jai begins placing it on you, it’s important to stand and battle. If he does that, I feel this battle shall be over inside three rounds. I actually do as a result of if Jai comes on the market and begins getting aggressive with Nyika, he’s not going to field lengthy. He likes to face and commerce as properly,” mentioned Hearn.
Opetaia’s Jaw Points
It could possibly be a mistake for Opetaia to assault the 6’6″ Nyika early within the contest. Doing so might lead to scar tissue round his eyes opening up early, which he doesn’t want. Jai is best off struggling cuts later. Additionally, he has jaw points from a nasty break in the course of the Briedis battle. If there’s a weak point there, Nyika will deliver it out.
“When you have a look at Nyika’s weak point, typically he does get hit just a little an excessive amount of,” mentioned Hearn. “Possibly that’s as a result of he’s combating at a decrease degree and he’s not as involved or as switched on. These are the form of fights the place you’ll see the easiest of somebody like Nyika.”
Opetaia has the identical weaknesses Nyika does by way of getting hit lots, and that’s comprehensible, although, as a result of he’s a come-forward slugger who tries to knock everybody out. That’s why he obtained beat up and was compelled to run in his two fights with Briedis, particularly the second. He seemed like a lion was chasing him within the second contest. These bug eyes of his had a glance of 100% pure worry, and you may’t blame him. Briedis was placing the fireplace beneath his bottom.
“This child has obtained pedigree. Nyika is a critical fighter. It’s not like he’s not ok to turn into a world champion. I’m certain Nyika will turn into a world champion, however will he turn into a world champion tomorrow evening? It could possibly be too early. If he’s particular, perhaps he does it,” mentioned Hearn.
At 29, if Nyika isn’t prepared now, he by no means will. Hearn talks about him like he’s a younger pup fairly than a fighter pushing 30. He’s had an extended newbie profession, combating far, much better technical fighters than Opetaia might ever hope to be. Expertise-wise, Nyika is greater than able to win this battle. If he loses, it’s not as a result of he was poor within the expertise division.
