Opetaia vs Nyika start time, live stream and undercard
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Opetaia defends the IBF cruiserweight title in his home country of Australia – in an unusual midweek outing. Jai Opetaia is back in action this week, defending his IBF cruiserweight title against David Nyika. Both men enter the main-event contest unbeaten, with Opetaia holding a professional record of 26-0 (20 knockouts), while Nyika is 10-0 (9 KOs).
![[Jai Opetaia (right) in his second win over Mairis Briedis, last year]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/02/17/GettyImages-2153587780.jpg)
There is somewhat of a geographical sporting rivalry behind the bout, too, as southpaw Opetaia fights in his home country of Australia here, while Nyika represents New Zealand. The fight will play out at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Opetaia first became champion by beating Mairis Briedis in 2022.
![[David Nyika (left) with fellow New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/06/09/newFile-19.jpg)
In a successful 2024, Opetaia outpointed Briedis again before stopping Jack Massey, and 2025 could bring unification fights and even an intriguing clash with Oleksandr Usyk. But for those contests to materialise, the 29-year-old must overcome Nyika, also 29.
Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is the fight?. Opetaia vs Nyika will take place on Wednesday 8 January, at Australia’s Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
