Boxing: David Nyika to fight journeyman after brutal knockdown
Australian Jai Opetaia knocks down opponent David Nyika of New Zealand during the Ring Magazine and IBF World Cruiserweight title fight in Gold Coast, 2025.
Photo:
AAP / www.photosport.nz
New Zealand boxer David Nyika is set to step back in the ring for his first fight since his brutal loss to Jai Opetaia.
The Olympic bronze medallist and two-time Commonwealth Games champion will take on Kiwi journeyman Nik Charalampous in Sydney next month.
The fight is part of the undercard
to the Sonny Bill Williams-Paul Gallen fight on 16 July
.
Nyika, 29, was
knocked out by Australian Opetaia in the fourth round of their IBF world cruiserweight title fight
in January.
It was his first defeat in his brief professional career.
"I'm ready," said Nyika.
"My journey restarts here.
"Fair play to Jai, he was the better fighter on the night. But true champions get back up again when they get knocked down - and I have no doubt I am going to be world champion."
Veteran boxer Charalampous has a 23-6-2 record.
"I think Nyika is an overrated pretty boy," Charalampous said.
"One of us went 10 rounds with Jai Opetaia, the other got stopped. I'm ready to go hard!"
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