David Nyika, left, and Tommy Karpency at Duco Boxing Fight Night at the Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland on 14 September 2024. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
David Nyika's latest fight was not in the ring, but in his own head.
The Kiwi cruiserweight is set to return to the ring for the first time since he was brutally knocked out by Jai Opetaia.
The Olympic medalist will meet Kiwi journeyman Nik 'the Greek' Charalampous in Sydney on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams vs Paul Gallen.
As it will be his first bout since being finished for the first time, Nyika is unsure how his mind will react in the ring.
"If I do show flecks of uncertainty or hesitation, shit, maybe I should retire? I don't want to be in this sport forever. It's a dangerous sport, but I know I've got the goods," he said.
Nyika admitted that after such a savage stoppage the self doubt can't help but creep in a bit.
"I disconnected. I just unplugged and when I started training camp again, it was like, 'oh wow, you're going to do this again? Are you David?'" he said. "Those skeletons in the closet come creeping out and they're like, 'hey man, remember last time we did this?'"
"Of course there are going to be doubts. Of course it's going to be difficult, but this is a difficult sport. It's hard. I respect my health and I appreciate my brain. So, if I can't get through this, or if I look a mess on fight night, maybe I shouldn't be here. It's up to me to prove to the world that I'm here to beat the best."
Despite the setback, Nyika hasn't shifted the goal posts.
"I know I'm up there with the best in the world, and I proved that against Jai. As disappointing as the outcome was, my stocks only rose after that fight."
Nyika said he felt no fear from Charalampous as the two squared off on Wednesday in Auckland.
"Nothing. He's dead behind the eyes. Nick's been here before. This isn't Nick's first big test. So yeah, case in point, he's been the distance with Jai over tyre. He's the real deal and that he won't be overruled by the occasion or anything. So I've got a real life that I have to catch."
Charalampous has labelled Nyika a hype job and believes he will officially end Nyika's career.
"I think Nyika is an overrated pretty boy. One of us went 10 rounds with Jai, the other got stopped. I'm ready to go hard. I think he's just had everything handed to him on a platter, when he first stepped up to fight adversity, he went to sleep."
Australian Jai Opetaia knocks down opponent David Nyika of New Zealand during the Ring Magazine and IBF World Cruiserweight title fight in Gold Coast, 2025. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Despite the trash talk, Nyika has no ill feelings towards his opponent.
"It's all complimentary. It's all a compliment to me. I like Nik. He's a top competitor. I've sparred him in the past. Last time would have been 10 years ago. I'm appreciative for him to take the fight."
Instead, Nyika is focussed on to reminding the world of his potential.
"I want everybody to tune in because this is going to be probably my best opportunity to actually showcase my ability. The fight against Jai, it was a whirlwind and as much as I can take away from that, I didn't get to show my full repertoire, my whole arsenal. I know that Nik's going to bring plenty of challenges and he's an awkward, crafty, difficult fighter. I just have to go in there with the right game plan, but I know I can hurt him."
The pair have sparred in the past, and Nyika does not expect much progression from his opponent.
"He's a crafty operator as well. I think I've changed and grown a lot since we last sparred. I don't imagine he's done much growing in that time."
To fight on the same card as Sonny Bill is a special moment for Nyika.
"I don't really subscribe to that rivalry per se, but I know a lot of other people do and I really like Sonny. He's taught me some really good values in life. So he's got my full support and I know he's an incredible athlete. I think naturally Paul Gallen is the better fighter, but I believe that Sonny Bill is the better athlete and I think that will prevail on the night."
The 29-year-old still has his eyes firmly on a world title.
"I'm young, hungry. I don't have a family to provide for, I will very soon but right now I can be selfish, I can be hard-headed, I can accomplish anything right now, and it's just a matter of following the necessary processes and just trusting that process because I know I've got the goods, I know I'm with the right people."
As for a rematch with Opetaia?
"That Post-It note hasn't come down off my mirror. I've still got my eyes on that prize. The route has changed, it wasn't meant to be the way it was. Whatever will be will be, and it wasn't on the night. So I still want that fight and whenever, wherever, I want to be prepared and I need better preparation for that fight. I had three weeks notice but I went in with full confidence and I'll always believe in myself."
