05-23-2023, 05:11 PM
'May the best man win': Why David Nyika is staying neutral during Joseph Parker's bout
Sam Wilson in Melbourne
David Nyika will be an interested but neutral observer when Joseph Parker and Faiga 'Django' Opelu meet in their expected heavyweight slugfest in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
Olympic bronze medallist Nyika (5-0, 4 KOs) is in action earlier on the same bill at Margaret Court Arena, taking on Louis Marsters (3-4, 2 KOs) in a scheduled five-round cruiserweight contest.
For him, this unexpected sequel – he knocked out Marsters in two rounds last July – is little more than a "routine bout" to help shake off the ring rust and prepare for better things.
So he expects to take his place at ringside in time for the main event, in which two men he knows – and respects – tremendously will knock seven bells out of each other.
David Nyika is itching to get back in the ring and put on a show after a frustrating seven-month hiatus
You might think that as Parker's compatriot and former training partner, Nyika would be rooting for his one-time mentor.
After all, it was Parker who helped Nyika find his feet in the pro ranks, welcoming him over to Morecambe to work with Andy Lee.
Yet since relocating to Queensland last year, where he trains under Noel Thornberry in the small town of Gatton, Nyika has also grown close to Parker's adversary Opelu and would therefore prefer to sit on the fence for what he predicts to be a "really exciting" fight.
"Since I came to Australia, I've probably done the most rounds with Django," Nyika revealed.
"He's a really good benchmark because he's so consistent, he's tough, he's durable and it's a good way for me to keep tabs on how I'm travelling, because he's a world-class heavyweight fighter.
"May the best man win. I think it's going to be a great fight and there's no escaping for either of them. Like I said, they both seem like they are in great shape so it's going to be really exciting."
For most people, the prospect of two of their friends doing battle might be too much to bear. But not Nyika, who can't wait to see how it unfolds on the night and is anticipating a tough test for heavy favourite Parker.
"Absolutely not, it's awesome. It's great for boxing. I'm just excited to know that fight's happening, because I know them so well," he said.
David Nyika is on friendly terms with both Joseph Parker and his opponent Faiga 'Django' Opelu.
"They are two Samoans. It's good for boxing and it's good for Samoa and the fighting culture which I know is treasured here in Melbourne and around Australia."
Much like Opelu, Nyika's own opponent is being given little to no chance of springing a surprise in Australia’s biggest city.
In fact, Marsters is even more of a long shot than Opelu, coming into their bout with a losing record and without a notable scalp to his name.
Still, the 31-year-old New Zealand-born Melburnian warned Nyika he would be making a big mistake to expect a similarly one-sided affair to their first meeting, for which he claimed he was ill-prepared.
"If you really want to know, our last fight was a joke. I was out of shape, I was only just fit enough to do a round," Marsters admitted.
"But this time I'm going to try and push the entire fight rather than blow out after a round or two.
I reckon when I come in he's going to try and run away. My job is to keep the pressure and try to stay as close as possible.
"I'm just going to get in there and beat him up."
Taking out "one of the biggest names in New Zealand" boxing would undoubtedly change Marsters' life for the better, securing him future paydays.
Which is precisely why Nyika won't be taking his challenge lightly and has prepared for a completely different animal to the meek one he encountered first time round on the Gold Coast 10 months ago.
"I've got a point to prove. I've always got a point to prove. I want to make statements that not just Louis will hear, but I want everyone else to understand that I'm one of the hottest prospects in boxing," said Nyika, dismissing concerns about rustiness after seven months away.
"Becoming a world-class fighter doesn't happen in four, six, eight weeks' time. I've been developing for over 14 years, I'm a well-honed fighting machine now."
As well as banking those invaluable rounds with Django, over the past six months Nyika has also sparred with rising Australian heavyweight Justis Huni and IBF cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia, along with a couple of "rough" local guys "who emulate Louis' style pretty well".
He vowed to show no Marsters no mercy as he aims to steal the show in his adopted homeland and build momentum ahead of the bigger tests that await later this year.
"I'm going to be sharp as a tack. That's my intention. I don't want to make any mistakes, I want to dismantle Louis a lot more methodically than I did the first time," Nyika said.
"I can't see the occasion getting to me, I've fought in front of thousands of fans before, and this is nothing different. I just want to go in and put on my best performance."
* Sam Wilson travelled to Melbourne courtesy of No Limit Boxing
Sam Wilson in Melbourne
David Nyika will be an interested but neutral observer when Joseph Parker and Faiga 'Django' Opelu meet in their expected heavyweight slugfest in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
Olympic bronze medallist Nyika (5-0, 4 KOs) is in action earlier on the same bill at Margaret Court Arena, taking on Louis Marsters (3-4, 2 KOs) in a scheduled five-round cruiserweight contest.
For him, this unexpected sequel – he knocked out Marsters in two rounds last July – is little more than a "routine bout" to help shake off the ring rust and prepare for better things.
So he expects to take his place at ringside in time for the main event, in which two men he knows – and respects – tremendously will knock seven bells out of each other.
David Nyika is itching to get back in the ring and put on a show after a frustrating seven-month hiatus
You might think that as Parker's compatriot and former training partner, Nyika would be rooting for his one-time mentor.
After all, it was Parker who helped Nyika find his feet in the pro ranks, welcoming him over to Morecambe to work with Andy Lee.
Yet since relocating to Queensland last year, where he trains under Noel Thornberry in the small town of Gatton, Nyika has also grown close to Parker's adversary Opelu and would therefore prefer to sit on the fence for what he predicts to be a "really exciting" fight.
"Since I came to Australia, I've probably done the most rounds with Django," Nyika revealed.
"He's a really good benchmark because he's so consistent, he's tough, he's durable and it's a good way for me to keep tabs on how I'm travelling, because he's a world-class heavyweight fighter.
"May the best man win. I think it's going to be a great fight and there's no escaping for either of them. Like I said, they both seem like they are in great shape so it's going to be really exciting."
For most people, the prospect of two of their friends doing battle might be too much to bear. But not Nyika, who can't wait to see how it unfolds on the night and is anticipating a tough test for heavy favourite Parker.
"Absolutely not, it's awesome. It's great for boxing. I'm just excited to know that fight's happening, because I know them so well," he said.
David Nyika is on friendly terms with both Joseph Parker and his opponent Faiga 'Django' Opelu.
"They are two Samoans. It's good for boxing and it's good for Samoa and the fighting culture which I know is treasured here in Melbourne and around Australia."
Much like Opelu, Nyika's own opponent is being given little to no chance of springing a surprise in Australia’s biggest city.
In fact, Marsters is even more of a long shot than Opelu, coming into their bout with a losing record and without a notable scalp to his name.
Still, the 31-year-old New Zealand-born Melburnian warned Nyika he would be making a big mistake to expect a similarly one-sided affair to their first meeting, for which he claimed he was ill-prepared.
"If you really want to know, our last fight was a joke. I was out of shape, I was only just fit enough to do a round," Marsters admitted.
"But this time I'm going to try and push the entire fight rather than blow out after a round or two.
I reckon when I come in he's going to try and run away. My job is to keep the pressure and try to stay as close as possible.
"I'm just going to get in there and beat him up."
Taking out "one of the biggest names in New Zealand" boxing would undoubtedly change Marsters' life for the better, securing him future paydays.
Which is precisely why Nyika won't be taking his challenge lightly and has prepared for a completely different animal to the meek one he encountered first time round on the Gold Coast 10 months ago.
"I've got a point to prove. I've always got a point to prove. I want to make statements that not just Louis will hear, but I want everyone else to understand that I'm one of the hottest prospects in boxing," said Nyika, dismissing concerns about rustiness after seven months away.
"Becoming a world-class fighter doesn't happen in four, six, eight weeks' time. I've been developing for over 14 years, I'm a well-honed fighting machine now."
As well as banking those invaluable rounds with Django, over the past six months Nyika has also sparred with rising Australian heavyweight Justis Huni and IBF cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia, along with a couple of "rough" local guys "who emulate Louis' style pretty well".
He vowed to show no Marsters no mercy as he aims to steal the show in his adopted homeland and build momentum ahead of the bigger tests that await later this year.
"I'm going to be sharp as a tack. That's my intention. I don't want to make any mistakes, I want to dismantle Louis a lot more methodically than I did the first time," Nyika said.
"I can't see the occasion getting to me, I've fought in front of thousands of fans before, and this is nothing different. I just want to go in and put on my best performance."
* Sam Wilson travelled to Melbourne courtesy of No Limit Boxing