Jai Opetaia SWEEP David Nyika in four

The 10-0 David Niyka stepped into the ring in Australia on Wednesday hoping to lift the IBF lightweight title from the acclaimed 26-0 Jai Opetaia. It just wasn’t supposed to happen. The taller Niyka started aggressively in the first, landing an impressive jab as well as rights and lefts to the body. For his part, the reigning champion remained confident in his abilities, sizing up his opponent so that when he landed, he landed with effect. In fact, Opetaia’s left-footed shot triumphed in the final seconds of the round.

The second saw Niyka deliver a powerful flash uppercut. Opetaia, however, has started to dominate the range. He also landed well while in close contact with the confident challenger. In fact, Opetaia hit Niyka with a powerful left. He found a home for that left more and more frequently as the round went on. In fact, it seemed that Opetaia had taken control of the fight. By the end of the third, Niyka was pitching less frequently than before. However, it was a legitimate fight in the ring. Sure enough, Niyka managed to tag Opeaia towards the bell.

Not that it mattered in the end, because things ended violently in the fourth. The first thirty seconds of the round were a shootout for the champion. It was clear that he wanted to end the fight early. A terrifyingly powerful uppercut sent the challenger to the floor with just over a minute left in the chapter. Niyka bravely stood up, but she should have stayed down. When the referee waved Opataia forward, the reigning champion had murder in his eyes. He approached Niyka and subsequently performed a Jack Demspey to the challenger’s Jess Willard.

The referee wisely stopped the bout before Niyka hit May, but the challenger remained flat on his back for several minutes surrounded by referees. Luckily, Nikya eventually managed to get back to her feet and exit the ring. It had been a scary thing to watch. On the other hand, boxing is a scary sport. “He took the fight on three weeks notice,” Opetaia said of his later fallen opponent. “He came here to fight… hats off to David.” A classy ending to an abusive relationship. Now the question is whether or not Opetaia will be able to unify the entire cruiserweight division.

“Ramirez,” Opetai jokingly called in a sing-song voice to fellow lightweight Zurdo Ramirez, “we’re coming for the belts.”