IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia says Davis Nyika is trying to finish what he’s trying to do with his career, and he won’t let him do it on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast Convention Center, Broadbeach, Australia.
A drained Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) seemed surprised by the intensity Nyika (10-0, 9 KOs) showed during their face off at the weigh-in. He thinks Nyika, 29, plans things at home in advance, and that’s not his style.
The Challenger is trying to gain an advantage to win his fight because he knows he is facing what many fans believe is the King of the Cruiserweight division. Nyika doesn’t have the experience or the hype over his career like Opetaia, but that doesn’t mean he can’t win.
“Try to break up with me”
It is catching Jai at the ideal time, with him starting to show the effort to make the weight and having fought in a grueling rematch with the former IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis last year in May. Nyika has the size, power and hunger to win this fight if he can defeat Opetaia.
“I didn’t even expect this. That was his little one. We know that this child goes home and thinks about things in his head what he said. Who knows? I don’t deserve it,” said Jai Opetaia to Boxing King MediaThey talk about their face-off at the weight with David Nyika.
“I’ve never bad mouthed anybody. I’ve never bad mouthed anybody. I said I live here. This is what I do. I’m talking about myself. I never bad mouth anybody. He’s always a good guy, but very intense here. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves.
“This is his opportunity, and he’s trying to finish what I’m trying to do. So, it’s all on the line. I don’t know, man. It’s a strange thing to hear,” said Opetaia when told that some people say that his “aura gives him goosebumps”.
Aura of intimidation
Nyika wanted to show that he wasn’t intimidated by Opetaia like the others, and that’s why he got in his face, letting it be known that he was going to win this fight. He predicts a KO win, and it will be interesting to see if he can do that against Jai. If he does, it will derail 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 they give you goosebumps and make you get off your a** and do something,” Opetaia said.
“I met Mike Tyson. I have too much respect for Mike Tyson to put me towards this, and it gives me goosebumps. So, what is he saying? So, I don’t know what I’m saying,” said Opetaia.
