David Nyika

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David Nyika
Statistics
Real nameDavid Kieran Nyika
Weight(s)Cruiserweight
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Reach79 in (201 cm)
NationalityNew Zealander
Born (1995-08-07) 7 August 1995 (age 26)
Hamilton, New Zealand
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights2
Wins2
Wins by KO2
Losses0
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo Heavyweight
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow Light heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast Heavyweight

David Kieran Nyika (born 07 August 1995) 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.[1][2][3][4] Nyika and Sarah Hirini were the New Zealand flag bearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[5][6] 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.[7][8][9][10]

Amateur career[]

2020 Summer Olympics[]

See also: Boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's heavyweight

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.[11] The biting incident overshadowed the competition as New Zealand media reported that it "marred" Nyika's Olympic debut.[12] The incident drew comparisons to Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield's 1997 fight in which Tyson repeatedly bit Holyfield's ear.[13]

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.[14]

Commonwealth Game results[]

Glasgow 2014

  • Round of 32: Defeated Luvuyo Sizani (South Africa) 2–0
  • Round of 16: Defeated Scott Forrest (Scotland) 3–0
  • Quater-finals: Defeated Sumit Sangwan (India) 3–0
  • Semi-finals: Defeated Sean McGlinchy (Northern Ireland) 3–0
  • Final: Defeated Kennedy St-Pierre (Mauritius) 3–0

Gold Coast 2018

  • Round of 16: Defeated Yakita Aska (Antigua and Barbuda) 5–0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated Christian Ndzie Tsoye (Cameroon) W/O
  • Semi-finals: Defeated Cheavon Clarke (England) 5–0
  • Final: Defeated Jason Whateley (Australia) 5–0

World Championship results[]

Hamburg 2017

  • Round of 16: Defeated Igor Teziev (Germany) 5–0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated by Evgeny Tishchenko (Russia) 4–1

Yekaterinburg 2019

  • Round of 32: Defeated Ahmed Hagag (Austria) 5–0
  • Round of 16: Defeated by Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) 5–0

Olympic Games results[]

Tokyo 2020

  • Round of 16: Defeated Youness Baalla (Morocco) 5-0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated Uladzislau Smiahlikau (Belarus) 5-0
  • Semi-finals: Defeated by Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) 4–1

Professional career[]

Early 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 on 27 February 2021.[15][16]

Professional boxing record[]

Professional record summary
2 fights 2 wins 0 losses
By knockout 2 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
2 Win 2–0 France Anthony Carpin RTD 1 (4), 3:00 18 Dec 2021 United Kingdom AO Arena, Manchester, England
1 Win 1–0 New Zealand Jesse Maio KO 1 (6), 0:29 27 Feb 2021 New Zealand Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand

References[]

  1. ^ "The Top Boxing Prospects from the 2014 Commonwealth Games". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. ^ "NZ fans spur Nyika to boxing gold". rnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Kiwi heavyweight boxer David Nyika ousted from world championships in controversial decision". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Jerome Pampellone stars at World Championships, David Nyika sent packing". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Tokyo Olympics 2020: New Zealand's last-minute flagbearer change as Olympics officially begin with opening ceremony". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: Schedule change calls Kiwi rowing eights into early Games action". Newshub. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: David Nyika cruises into quarterfinals after attempted bite from Morocco's Youness Baalla". Stuff. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  8. ^ "David Nyika on receiving end of bite attempt in Olympic boxing debut". RNZ. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Rival attempts bite on Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika". TVNZ. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempts to bite New Zealand's David Nyika | NBC Olympics". www.nbcolympics.com. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Boxing-New Zealand's Nyika bitten but not beaten on Games debut". Reuters. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Tokyo Olympics 2020: Boxing – Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika's Games win marred by disgraceful act". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  13. ^ readJuly 27, less than 2 min; Newsroom, 2021-4:14PMNews Corp Australia Sports (27 July 2021). "He bit his ear! Boxer's outrageous Mike Tyson move". adelaidenow. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Kiwi boxer David Nyika wins bronze after semifinal defeat". TVNZ. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa: As Tokyo Olympics uncertainty continues, David Nyika finds opponent for pro debut". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Kiwi boxer David Nyika confident of crushing victory on professional debut". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2020.

External links[]

Olympic Games
Preceded by
Peter Burling
 Flagbearer for  New Zealand
Tokyo 2020
With: Sarah Hirini 		Incumbent
Retrieved from ""