(Video) Jai Opetaia scores a thunderous KO to retain IBF Cruiserweight title after 4 rounds slugfest
IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia defended his world boxing title against David Nyika in his home country of Australia.

Jai Opetaia defends his IBF cruiserweight title (Image via talkSPORT/X)
In a thrilling showcase of skill and power, world cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia delivered a devastating performance in the ring. The Australian boxer defended his IBF cruiserweight title against David Nyika. The two boxing stars faced off earlier today in Gold Coast, Australia. With determination etched on his face, Opetaia successfully protected his prized championship belt.
David Nyika stepped in on short notice to replace the undefeated boxer Huseyin Chinkara in a bout against Jai Opetaia. Although Nyika had established himself as a formidable knockout artist leading up to the fight, Opetaia’s skills and talent ultimately prevailed, resulting in Nyika’s first loss in his professional career.
Opetaia appeared calm and composed right from the opening bell, delivering some powerful shots that stunned Nyika. The IBF champ started the second round with several hard punches to the body before landing a clean head strike. After dominating the third round, Opetaia sensed that victory was near. In the fourth round, a brutal uppercut knocked Nyika down, marking the beginning of the end for him.
??? ????????????? ? ?????? ???????@jaiopetaia1 knocks David Nyika OUT COLD in the fourth ?#OpetaiaNyika pic.twitter.com/EDRuaW7OUA
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 8, 2025
JAI OPETAIA BRUTALLY SLUMPS NYIKA AFTER A CRAZY SLUG FEST
— ?ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ? (@TheArtOfWar6) January 8, 2025
pic.twitter.com/KgGWNInfcn
Opetaia stalked the challenger down, raining fire some devastating hooks before a perfectly timed left hand sent Nyika crashing to the canvas. With that, the IBF cruiserweight champion came out with yet another win – extending his record to 27-0. Now, the aftermath of this impressive win raises the question of who should Opetaia face next.
Jai Opetaia calls out Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for a cruiserweight title unification fight
Gilberto Ramirez comes from a strong Mexican boxing pedigree, with renowned boxers like Canelo Alvarez making significant impacts in the sport. Currently, ‘Zurdo’ holds the titles of WBA (Super) and WBO Cruiserweight Champion of the World. In addition to these achievements, the Mexican boxer has an impressive fight record with numerous notable victories. However, there is one blemish on his record.

In 2022, Ramirez faced Dmitry Bivol and suffered a decisive defeat by a unanimous decision against the Russian boxer. Meanwhile, Jai Opetaia, feeling confident after his recent victory over David Nyika, aims to enhance his reputation in the boxing community. As a result, the IBF cruiserweight champion is looking to challenge ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez to unify their world titles.
Ramirez, I’m coming for those belts. I’ve been waiting for these unification fights for a long time and I’m coming for my belts.
Jai Opetaia via DAZN live broadcast
Ramirezzzzzz, I'm coming for the belts ? @jaiopetaia1#OpetaiaNyika | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/ba7En9Yx1w
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 8, 2025
Eddie Hearn, Opetaia’s promoter, is quite pleased with his recent boxing performance. As a result, the Matchroom boss is eager to further enhance his boxer’s reputation within the boxing community. Hearn believes that unifying the cruiserweight belts is a significant step toward enabling future super fights and lucrative matchups.
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