IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia says Davis Nyika is trying to end what he’s trying to accomplish with his career, and he won’t let him do that on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, in Australia.
A drained-looking Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) seemed kind of surprised by the intensity that Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) showed during their face-off at the weigh-in. He thinks Nyika, 29, plans things out at home ahead of time, and that’s not his style.
The Challenger is trying to gain an edge to win his fight because he knows he’s facing what many fans believe is the King of the Cruiserweight division. Nyika doesn’t have the experience or the hype about his career like Opetaia, but that doesn’t mean he can’t win.
“He’s Trying To End Me”
He’s catching Jai at the ideal time, with him beginning to show the strain of making weight and having fought in a grueling rematch with former IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis last year in May. Nyika has the size, power, and hunger to win this fight if he can out-brawl Opetaia.
“I wasn’t expecting that either. That was his little. I know this kid goes home and he plans things in his head what he’s been saying. Who knows? I don’t give a f***,” said Jai Opetaia to Boxing King Media, talking about his face-off at the weigh-in with David Nyika.
“I never bad-mouthed no one. I never talked about no one. I said I live here. This is what I do. I talk about myself. I never bad-mouth no one. He’s still a good dude, but very intense in there. We’ve got a lot of pressure on ourselves.
“This is his opportunity, and he’s trying to end what I’m trying to do. So, it’s all on the line. I don’t know, man. That’s a weird thing to hear,” said Opetaia when told that some people said his ‘aura gives them goosebumps.’
Aura Of Intimidation
Nyika wanted to show that he was not intimidated by Opetaia like the others, and that’s why he was getting in his face, letting him know that he was coming to win this fight. He’s predicting a knockout win, and it will be interesting to see if he can do that against Jai. If he does, it will upset Opetaia and his promoter, Eddie Hearn’s plans for fights against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Oleksandr Usyk,
“I’m just focused on myself, trying to win these fights and move forward in life. I hope they’re good goosebumps and make you get off your a** and do something,” said Opetaia.
“I’ve met Mike Tyson. I have too much respect for Mike Tyson to put myself towards that, and he gives me goosebumps. So, what does that say? So, I don’t know what to say,” said Opetaia.
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