Jai Opetaia successfully defended his title with a fourth-round knockout over David Nyika in a fight that showcased relentless action and high stakes. Despite Nyika stepping in on just three weeks’ notice, he delivered a spirited performance before succumbing to Opetaia’s power.
The first round saw Opetaia setting the pace, landing heavy shots to Nyika’s body while Nyika worked to establish his jab. Nyika moved well and showed resilience in defense but struggled to match Opetaia’s combinations. The champion took the round 10-9.
In the second round, Nyika improved his activity, landing some effective body shots and working in close exchanges. However, Opetaia continued to find openings, particularly with his body shots, edging out another round on the scorecards at 20-18.
The third round highlighted Opetaia’s growing dominance. He connected with clean combinations and controlled the tempo, while Nyika resorted to single punches and moments of effective counterpunching. By the end of the round, Opetaia had extended his lead to 30-27.
The fourth round brought the decisive moment. Opetaia dropped Nyika with a combination of a left hand and a body shot, but Nyika quickly returned to his feet. Opetaia pressed forward, landing a short left that left Nyika grabbing at the ropes. The final blow came moments later, a powerful left hand that left Nyika face down on the canvas. The referee waved off the fight, and Nyika remained down for several minutes before recovering.
After the fight, Opetaia praised Nyika for his effort. “He took this fight on short notice, and he came here to fight. He gave me a dogfight, and I respect that,” Opetaia said. “All that style went out the window—it was a dogfight.”
This victory further cements Opetaia’s status as a dominant force in the division and adds another emphatic finish to his record.
