IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia says Davis Nyika is trying to end what he’s trying to achieve in his career and he won’t let him do that on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia.
A drained Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) seemed a little surprised by the intensity Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) displayed during their weigh-in bout. He thinks Nyika, 29, plans things at home in advance, which is not his style.
Challenger is trying to gain an advantage to win his fight as he knows he is facing what many fans believe is the king of the Cruiserweight division. Nyika doesn’t have the experience or hype of his career like Opetaia, but that doesn’t mean he can’t win.
“He’s trying to end me”
He caught Jai at an ideal time, as he began to show the strain of making weight and fought a grueling rematch with former IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis last May. Nyika has the size, power and hunger to win this fight if he can get the better of Opetaia.
“I didn’t expect that either. That was his little one. I know this kid goes home and plans things in his head what he was saying. who knows I don’t give a f***,” said Jai Opetaia Boxing King Mediatalking about his weigh-in bout with David Nyika.
“I have never insulted anyone. I never talked about anyone. I said I live here. This is what I do. I’m talking about myself. I never insult anyone. He’s still a good guy, but very intense. We are under a lot of pressure ourselves.
“This is his chance and he’s trying to stop what I’m trying to do. So everything is fine. I don’t know, man. It’s weird to hear that,” Opetaia said when told that some people said that ‘his aura gives you goosebumps.’
An aura of intimidation
Nyika wanted to show that Opetaia didn’t scare him like the others, so he got in his face, letting him know that he was coming to win this fight. He is projecting a knockout win, and it will be interesting to see if that works out against Jai. If he does, it will disrupt Opetaia and his promoter Eddie Hearn’s plans to fight Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Oleksandr Usyk.
“I’m just focused on myself, trying to win these fights and move forward in life. I hope it gives you a good chill and makes you get off your dick and do something,” Opetaia said.
“I met Mike Tyson. I respect Mike Tyson too much to go along with that, and it makes me cringe. So what does that say? So, I don’t know what to say,” Opetaia said.
