The champion Jai Opetaia and his challenger David Nyika both weighed in at 199.5lbs ahead of Wednesday’s IBF cruiserweight title fight.
Opetaia, 29 and a resident of Australia’s Gold Coast, is fighting in his home country for the first time since July 2022, when he transformed his career with a victory over Mairis Briedis. Wednesday’s fight at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland represents his third defence of the title he won that night; he briefly vacated the belt before regaining it last year.
The 29-year-old Nyika replaced Huseyin Cinkara as Opetaia’s opponent when in December injury ruled Cinkara out. Nyika won an Olympic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“He’s ready and prepared – let’s go,” said Opetaia. “Let’s do it.”
“All of the talking is done, man,” Nyika said. “We’re sick of these interviews – let’s get it on. Get your popcorn ready, it’s going to be a show.”
Full weights to follow…