David Nyika


David Kieran Nyika is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as competing at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. Nyika and Sarah Hirini were the New Zealand flag bearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Nyika gained significant media attention after an incident during the Round of 16 at the 2020 Summer Olympics in which Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempted to bite Nyika's ear.

Amateur career

2020 Summer Olympics

On July 27, 2021, Nyika won a Round of 16 match against Moroccan Youness Baalla in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. In what was described by commentators as a "disgraceful act", during the third round, Baalla attempted to bite Nyika. The biting incident overshadowed the competition as New Zealand media reported that it "marred" Nyika's Olympic debut. The incident drew comparisons to Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield's 1997 fight in which Tyson repeatedly bit Holyfield's ear.
On August 3, 2021, David Nyika won a bronze medal after being defeated in the men's heavyweight semifinal against Russian Olympic Committee's Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.

Commonwealth Game results

Glasgow 2014
Gold Coast 2018
  • Round of 16: Defeated Yakita Aska 5–0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated Christian Ndzie Tsoye W/O
  • Semi-finals: Defeated Cheavon Clarke 5–0
  • Final: Defeated Jason Whateley 5–0

    World Championship results

Hamburg 2017
  • Round of 16: Defeated Igor Teziev 5–0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated by Evgeny Tishchenko 4–1
Yekaterinburg 2019
  • Round of 32: Defeated Ahmed Hagag 5–0
  • Round of 16: Defeated by Muslim Gadzhimagomedov 5–0

    Olympic Games results

Tokyo 2020
  • Round of 16: Defeated Youness Baalla 5-0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated Uladzislau Smiahlikau 5-0
  • Semi-finals: Defeated by Muslim Gadzhimagomedov 4–1

    Professional career

On 26 January 2021, it was announced that Nyika would make his professional debut against Jesse Maio on the undercard of Joseph Parker vs. Junior Fa at Spark Arena on 27 February 2021. The bout would end in strange fashion as following a big right hand landed by Nyika that floored Maio, Maio would protest that the punch landed behind the head. Despite protestations from Maio that he had been hit behind the head, Nyika was awarded the win just 29 seconds into the opening round.
Following his bronze medal winning performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics Nyika would relocate to Morecambe, England in preparation for his second pro bout and would begin training under former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee and would train alongside reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. He would make his UK debut against Frenchman Anthony Carpin on the undercard of the rematch between Joseph Parker vs. Dereck Chisora at AO Arena in Manchester on 18 December 2021. Nyika would progress to 2–0 dominating Carpin throughout the initial three minutes and when the bell rang to end the opening round, Carpin would retire on his stool complaining about a left elbow injury.
Nyika's next outing would be involved in a crowd-pleasing five-round scrap with Karim Maatalla on the undercard of George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney on 5 June 2022. Nyika showcased some of the skills that helped him win Olympic bronze and two Commonwealth Games golds as he out-fought the game Maatalla over five rounds to win 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47 on the judges scorecards. Speaking on his performance after the fight, Nyika said, "Realistically, I'd give it like a C−, It was exactly what I needed. I needed some tough opposition, someone who can actually take the shots as well as give them back."
Nyika challenged IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on the Gold Coast in Australia on 8 January 2025, but lost the fight by knockout in the fourth round.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
13Win12–1Wuzhati Nuerlang1013 December 2025Gatton Shire Hall, Gatton, Australia
12Win11–1Nikolas CharalampousTKO6 16 July 2025Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park
11Loss10–1Jai OpetaiaKO4 8 Jan 2025Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, AustraliaFor IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles
10Win10–0Tommy KarpencyTKO3, 1:1315 Sep 2024Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland, New ZealandRetained IBF Inter-Continental cruiserweight title;
Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title
9Win9–0Michael SeitzTKO4, 2:4518 May 2024Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental cruiserweight title
8Win8–0Robert BerridgeTKO3, 1:003 Nov 2023Gatton Shire Hall, Gatton, Australia
7Win7–0Waikato FalefehiTKO2, 2:1428 July 2023Gatton Shire Hall, Gatton, Australia
6Win6–0Louis MarstersTKO4, 2:2224 May 2023Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia
5Win5–0Titi MotusagaKO2, 2:3516 Oct 2022Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
4Win4–0Louis Marsters2, 0:592 Jul 2022Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia
3Win3–0Karim Maatalla55 Jun 2022Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
2Win2–0Anthony Carpin1, 3:0018 Dec 2021AO Arena, Manchester, England
1Win1–0Jesse Maio1, 0:2927 Feb 2021Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand