David Nyika Explained

David Nyika
Height:6 ft 6 in
Reach:79 in
Weight:Cruiserweight
Birth Date:1995 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Hamilton, New Zealand
Style:Orthodox
Total:9
Wins:9
Ko:8

David Kieran Nyika (born 7 August 1995) is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as competing at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.[1] [2] [3] [4] Nyika and Sarah Hirini were the New Zealand flag bearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[5] [6] Nyika gained significant media attention after an incident during the Round of 16 at the 2020 Summer Olympics in which Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempted to bite Nyika's ear.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Amateur career

2020 Summer Olympics

See also: Boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's heavyweight. On July 27, 2021, Nyika won a Round of 16 match against Moroccan Youness Baalla in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. In what was described by commentators as a "disgraceful act", during the third round, Baalla attempted to bite Nyika.[11] The biting incident overshadowed the competition as New Zealand media reported that it "marred" Nyika's Olympic debut.[12] The incident drew comparisons to Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield's 1997 fight in which Tyson repeatedly bit Holyfield's ear.[13]

On August 3, 2021, David Nyika won a bronze medal after being defeated in the men's heavyweight semifinal against Russian Olympic Committee's Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.[14]

Commonwealth Game results

Glasgow 2014

Gold Coast 2018

World Championship results

Hamburg 2017

Yekaterinburg 2019

Olympic Games results

Tokyo 2020

Professional career

Early career

On 26 January 2021, it was announced that Nyika would make his professional debut against Jesse Maio on the undercard of Joseph Parker vs. Junior Fa at Spark Arena on 27 February 2021.[15] [16] The bout would end in strange fashion as following a big right hand landed by Nyika that floored Maio, Maio would protest that the punch landed behind the head. Despite protestations from Maio that he had been hit behind the head, Nyika was awarded the win just 29 seconds into the opening round.[17]

Following his bronze medal winning performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics Nyika would relocate to Morecambe, England in preparation for his second pro bout and would begin training under former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee and would train alongside reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.[18] He would make his UK debut against Frenchman Anthony Carpin on the undercard of the rematch between Joseph Parker vs. Dereck Chisora at AO Arena in Manchester on 18 December 2021. Nyika would progress to 2–0 dominating Carpin throughout the initial three minutes and when the bell rang to end the opening round, Carpin would retire on his stool complaining about an left elbow injury.[19] Nyika's next outing would be involved in a crowd-pleasing five-round scrap with Karim Maatalla on the undercard of George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney on 5 June, 2022. Nyika showcased some of the skills that helped him win Olympic bronze and two Commonwealth Games golds as he out-fought the game Maatalla over five rounds to win 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47 on the judges scorecards. Speaking on his performance after the fight, Nyika said, "Realistically, I'd give it like a C−, It was exactly what I needed. I needed some tough opposition, someone who can actually take the shots as well as give them back."[20]

Nyika is scheduled to headline a DAZN PPV card at Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland, New Zealand on September 14, 2024.[21] [22]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
9Win9–0Michael SeitzTKO4 (10), 18 May 2024
8Win8–0Robert BerridgeTKO3 (8), 3 Nov 2023
7Win7–0Waikato FalefehiTKO2 (8), 28 July 2023
6Win6–0Louis MarstersTKO4 (5), 24 May 2023
5Win5–0Titi MotusagaKO2 (6), 16 Oct 2022
4Win4–0Louis Marsters2 (4), 2 Jul 2022
3Win3–0Karim Maatalla55 Jun 2022
2Win2–0Anthony Carpin1 (4), 18 Dec 2021
1Win1–0Jesse Maio1 (6), 27 Feb 2021

Notes and References

  1. News: The Top Boxing Prospects from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. BleacherReport.com. 30 January 2021. en.
  2. News: NZ fans spur Nyika to boxing gold. RNZ. 30 January 2021. en.
  3. News: Kiwi heavyweight boxer David Nyika ousted from world championships in controversial decision. Stuff.co.nz. 30 January 2020. en.
  4. News: Jerome Pampellone stars at World Championships, David Nyika sent packing. Stuff.co.nz. 30 January 2021. en.
  5. Web site: Tokyo Olympics 2020: New Zealand's last-minute flagbearer change as Olympics officially begin with opening ceremony. 2021-07-24. NZ Herald. en-NZ.
  6. News: Tokyo Olympics: Schedule change calls Kiwi rowing eights into early Games action. en. Newshub. 2021-07-24.
  7. Web site: 2021-07-27. Tokyo Olympics: David Nyika cruises into quarterfinals after attempted bite from Morocco's Youness Baalla. 2021-07-27. Stuff. en.
  8. Web site: 2021-07-27. David Nyika on receiving end of bite attempt in Olympic boxing debut. 2021-07-27. RNZ. en-nz.
  9. News: Rival attempts bite on Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika. en-NZ. TVNZ. 2021-07-27.
  10. Web site: Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempts to bite New Zealand's David Nyika NBC Olympics. 2021-07-27. NBC Olympics. en.
  11. News: 2021-07-27. Boxing-New Zealand's Nyika bitten but not beaten on Games debut. 2021-07-27. Reuters.
  12. News: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Boxing – Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika's Games win marred by disgraceful act. 2021-07-27. NZ Herald. en-NZ.
  13. News: 2021-07-27. He bit his ear! Boxer's outrageous Mike Tyson move. 2021-07-27. AdelaideNow. en.
  14. News: Kiwi boxer David Nyika wins bronze after semifinal defeat. en-NZ. TVNZ. 2021-08-03.
  15. News: Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa: As Tokyo Olympics uncertainty continues, David Nyika finds opponent for pro debut. stuff.co.nz. 30 January 2021. en.
  16. News: Kiwi boxer David Nyika confident of crushing victory on professional debut. tvnz.co.nz. 30 January 2020. en.
  17. News: Boxing: David Nyika beats Jesse Maio in professional debut after bizarre 28-second TKO. nzherald.co.nz. 22 May 2022. en.
  18. News: Boxer David Nyika heading to UK to join Parker, Fury camp. 1 News. 22 May 2022. en.
  19. News: Boxing: Olympic star David Nyika shows professional potential with convincing win on Parker-Chisora undercard. newshub.co.nz. 22 May 2022. en.
  20. News: David Nyika eyes another fight before Commonwealth Games. stuff.co.nz. 12 June 2022. en.
  21. News: Iskenderov . Parviz . David Nyika next fight set for September in New Zealand . FIGHTMAG . 21 June 2024.
  22. News: Napier . Liam . David Nyika teams up with Joseph Parker in multi-fight deal . NZ Herald . 21 June 2024 . en-NZ.