3 minute read

David Nyika's trainer is confident his man will earn another world title shot this year despite his ambitious attempt against Jai Opetaia ending abruptly.

Bruised but not broken, David Nyika could fight again for a world title this year after the knocked out challenger was cleared of serious injury despite Jai Opetaia's savage knockout.

The Queensland-based New Zealander went toe-to-toe with IBF and The Ring cruiserweight monster Opetaia on Wednesday before the champion emphatically stopped the fight in the fourth round.

Nyika was felled by a short right, fighting on for mere seconds before Opetaia landed a huge right hook and then delivered a left glove to his nose as the challenger clung defenceless on the ropes.

He lay motionless on the canvas before eventually walking out of the ring, congratulating Opetaia and reporting to hospital for scans.

Nyika's team left the hospital at around 5am on Thursday, the fighter cleared of a brain injury and sporting a fractured nose.

Trainer and manager Noel Thornberry told AAP he had attempted to catch the referee's attention to stop the fight before Opetaia landed the final blow. 

But Opetaia was too quick, Thornberry simply relieved his man had avoided serious injury after admitting there were grave initial fears for his health.

Nyika will likely put a Mexican holiday on hold but Thornberry expects him to remain in the conversation should Opetaia unify the cruiserweight division then move up to heavyweight and vacate his belts as planned.

"It'll be a big year for David; he'll back fighting for a title," Thornberry said.

"If anything he'll move up in the rankings after that. 

"If you're going to lose to someone, it may as well be the potential next heavyweight champion of the world.

"It wasn't a long fight but it was one of the best you'll see.

"There was probably too much nervous energy; the plan wasn't to be so aggressive so early.

"But I haven't seen Jai rocked like that before and lose his feet, not even when Mairis Briedis broke his jaw (in 2022)."

Opetaia admitted Nyika's bold approach had caught him off guard, praising his willingness to engage in a "dog fight" despite taking the contest on just three weeks' notice as an injury replacement for mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara.

"After the first round, that was pretty intense, I thought, oh, here we go, he's going to start boxing here," Opetaia said.

"But he just kept coming forward, so that's what happens.

"I respect David ... I hope he's all right."