Boxing
Jai Opetaia knocks out David Nyika with huge left hand in round four to retain IBF title
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Jai Opetaia has successfully retained his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight titles after knocking out David Nyika.
In what was his first fight in Australia for two years, Opetaia made sure to put on a show after he was met with an electric atmosphere during his ringwalk at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
With Opetaia having an opponent change three weeks before the opening bell, there were some concerns as to whether the defending champion could perform to the best of his ability.
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The opening round saw Nyika attempt to go on the front foot as he backed Opetaia towards the ropes, the Australian was able to wriggle himself out of this tactic and began to land in the closing stages.
Opetaia continued to land in flurries in round two which began to take their effect on Nyika who was rocked in a sign of things to come.
If Nyika was to get any foothold in the contest, he needed to meet fire with fire, his single punches did not trouble Opetaia who looked at ease in front of his home crowd.
A relatively quiet round three saw Opetaia increase the intensity in the fourth with his combinations continuing to catch the eye which sparked the beginning of the end for Nyika.
An Opetaia right hand sent Nyika on to the canvas, but the New Zealand fighter managed to meet the referee's count which sparked the IBF champion into pursuing an early finish.
Opetaia continued to land and eventually it proved too much for Nyika's resistance who was knocked out with an explosive Opetaia left hand.
It was a perfect homecoming for Opetaia who put on a show for his passionate home fans, and now the next move appears to be a unification clash with WBA and WBO cruiserweight titleholder Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez.
Re-live the best moments from fight night below.
