Jai Opetaia-David Nyika Fight Week Diary: Day Two

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – A sense of optimism and enthusiasm surrounds Eddie Hearn on Australia’s Gold Coast. It is similar, perhaps, to when he first emerged as an alternative to his long-term rival Frank Warren in Britain in the first years of the previous decade, when in so many respects he represented the poster boy of boxing promotion that Sky Sports – then the only serious broadcaster of the sport in the UK – believed they had been waiting for.

Hearn, then all energy and bravado – and evolving as a communicator – was, in a similar number of respects, embraced. It was when his increasing influence troubled both his rivals and observers of boxing that the enthusiasm that had existed for him was tested, and was replaced among some by what can best be described as fatigue.

Matchroom’s expansion into the US and the grand plans he spoke about for both his promotional organisation and broadcasters DAZN meant that that fatigue – and for the sake of balance it is important to recognise that regardless of attitudes towards him, in both territories there has never once been a decreased desire to hear his thoughts – was more immediate.

No such fatigue exists for him in Queensland, Australia. His presence – caricature and all – has been welcomed as a symbol of the significance of Wednesday’s IBF cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and David Nyika, and has heightened the sense of occasion that appears to surpass that that surrounded Opetaia-Mairis Briedis in July 2022, and several fights involving the figurehead of Australian boxing, Tim Tszyu.

Liam Paro-Brock Jarvis, in October 2022, represented Matchroom’s first fight in Australia. They have a stake in Opetaia, Conor Wallace, Justis Huni and Teremoana Jnr – all are co-promoted by Tasman Fighters – and also promote, among others, Paro, Skye Nicolson and George Kambosos Jnr. Hearn, similarly, has spoken of promoting up to five further dates in Australia in 2025.

Wednesday’s is another with buy-in from Riyadh Season. If the branding on the marketing material promoting Opetaia-Nyika provides one consistent reminder of the reach of Saudi Arabia’s tentacles, both Hearn and those in town on behalf of DAZN regularly provide others.

“His Excellency Turki Alalshikh” was referenced, more than once, at Monday’s press conference. Hearn mentioned him again in conversation with BoxingScene, and again shortly afterwards at a Q&A in which he spoke about his willingness to answer phone calls from him at 3am when he agrees to then join Zoom calls – and even went as far as describing him as “one of the funniest people I’ve met”.

He also described Alalshikh as “a student of the game”. Ultimately, his saying so provided a reminder that Hearn’s one of the game’s finest and most calculated exponents of all.

The promoter, this time joined by Johnny Fisher and Wallace – Nicolson was also in attendance as an observer – played it similarly effectively at another Q&A in Surfers Paradise on Tuesday evening. Accepted wisdom dictates that it is the game and not the player who should be hated, and mid-fight week in Australia enthusiasm for both is such that neither are.

Opetaia – treated like, and carrying the aura of, a star at Tuesday’s ceremonial weigh-in at the Gold Coast Convention Centre – is on the eve of his latest fight perhaps its biggest benefactor.

Fly into town, draw attention to the occasion, and depart with a sense of satisfaction. The game might even be the most justifiable it’s ever been.