GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – The exciting fight between IBF lightweight champion Jai Opetaia and David Nyika represents the first major fight of 2025 and is destined to be Finished being remembered as one of the knockout games of the year.
Two days ago, BoxingScene heard Eddie Hearn promise a “fight of the year” and wonder how many more times he’ll be leaning on that tired rope in 2025, but this At one time, its use was very old.
Both fighters’ fearless willingness to trade made an early end to the fight inevitable, but Nika’s subsequent takedown represented one of the most concerning incidents BoxingScene has ever seen. Until then – and concerns have grown the longer he recovers – their fight has become an advertisement for Australian boxing that co-promoters Matchroom and Tasman Fighters hope will come true.
Not only was the Gold Coast Convention Center sold out on Wednesday night, it was packed with engaged spectators who created an atmosphere befitting the upcoming celebration of Opetaia-Nyika and Australian culture. Music that can be heard during matches and between rounds includes music by popular Australian DJ Fisher, resident resident of Hï, widely regarded as the best Ibiza nightclub in the world, and John Williams The iconic song True Blue, which is about what it means to be a true Australian, has a line about sticking by your “mate” in a fight.
Popular British heavyweight boxer Johnny Fisher sat at a corporate table near BoxingScene and demonstrated, in part, why he is so popular on the other side of the world. No doubt he was struggling with jet lag, but he was more than willing to talk to those at his table who he didn’t know, and it didn’t take long to hear him fielding questions about whether he needed a sponsor.
High-profile former rugby league players were also in attendance, but for the first time everyone in the arena showed real commitment when heavyweight Teremoana Jnr took to the ring. Whether Teremoana Jnr, who is attracting attention at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will ultimately justify the hype surrounding him remains unclear, but he is a natural performer who loves to perform in the ring , so he is both relaxed and composed – two qualities that serve him well. After victory was confirmed, Cook Island resident Teremoana Jnr performed a dance that might rival the haka of New Zealand’s famous rugby team.
Samoan dancers and singers then performed before the next bout, a light welterweight bout between Ben Mahoney and Fan Zhang, on the The end of the seventh round was threatened by a brief power outage caused by a lightning strike near the venue, and the Gold Coast had nothing but intense sunshine and heat for the next few days.
The Moloney twins Jason and Andrew were soon seated near Johnny Fisher and were therefore forced to endure the strains of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”, the Australian national anthem that was beyond use in a non-sporting context The degree has long been recognized for use in accompanying sporting events in the UK.
Refreshingly, despite the sporting rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, with Nika present to challenge poster boy Opetaia, representing the villain of the game, the New Zealand national anthem played before Nika took the field was treated with respect and Not booed. Nika was loudly booed as he walked to the ring, proving how possible it is to show support for a fighter without having to resort to the disrespectful, vulgar act of booing the national anthem. The brawling crowds that exist in the UK are often described as the envy of the world – renowned emcee Michael Buffer is among those who repeatedly admire the noise they generate – but the reality in 2025 is , they often embarrass those involved in related activities. fight.
The Australian national anthem, sung in an Aboriginal language, complemented Opetaia’s circular walk and was as popular as Matchroom and Tasman warriors had hoped. All of which made it a shame that “G’day mate” was said in Arabic to the absent Turki Arasheh before the opening bell.
Unlike what had happened before, this was a selfish act of respect. The reality remains, however, that what happened between Opetaia and Nica is rightfully what “Return of the Champions” will be remembered for. Likewise, the brutal nature of the knockout rounds, among other things, was enough for the 5,000 spectators in attendance – many wearing T-shirts branded with sports star Oppetaya – to transport them into the summer night.
Declan Warrington has been writing about boxing for national newspapers in the UK and Ireland since 2010. He is also a long-time contributor to Boxing News, Boxing News Presents and Talksport, and is a former boxing correspondent for the Press Association, BoxNation and BoxNation expert. He is a regular contributor to publications including Boxing Monthly, The Athletic and Boxing Magazine. In 2023, he conducted interviews and wrote the script for the audio documentary “Froch-Groves: The Definitive Story”; he is also a member of the BWAA.
