Jai Opetaia destroys David Nyika as promoter suggests Oleksandr Usyk fight

Jai Opetaia inflicted a devastating knockout of David Nyika and then issued a warning to Gilberto Ramirez, while his promoter suggested an even bigger fight. WATCH FULL HIGHLIGHTS

Australia’s best boxer Jai Opetaia left his opponent on the canvas for several minutes following a devastating knockout Gold Coast on Wednesday night, after which promoter Eddie Hearn suggested he could fight Oleksandr Usyk next year.

Opetaia, 29, proved he is one of the most dangerous boxers on the planet with a brutal fourth-round knockout of Kiwi David Nyika, who spent several minutes on the canvas with his legs twitching, before he was gingerly guided back to his dressing room.

Jai Opetaia knocks down David Nyika during the IBF And Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Title Fight. Picture: Getty Images

Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn said Opetaia said: “I truly believe Jai is the only boxer who can truly challenge Oleksandr Usyk”, and suggested a showdown between the pair could happen in Australia next year.

Opetaia wants to unify the cruiserweight division before moving up to heavyweight, the same as Usyk.

Opetaia issued a warning to cruiserweight rival Gilberto Ramirez following his crushing fourth-round KO over David Nyika.

Mexico’s Ramirez holds the WBO World cruiserweight belt and Opetaia wants to add that to his IBF and Ring Magazine belts.

“Ramirez, I’m coming for the belts,” Opetaia said.

“I’ve been waiting for these fights for a long time, chasing these fights, I’m coming for my belts.”

Opetaia paid tribute to Nyika, who spent several minutes on the canvas following his knockout.

“David, thank you, he took the fight on three weeks’ notice,” Opetaia said.

“I thought he was going to come out and box, he came to slug it out and I respect that.

“That was a dog fight, he wanted these belts and he kept punching. We gave this crowd a good fight.”

A wobbly-legged Nyika was helped out of the ring and into his dressing room by his team.

Opetaia dropped him with an uppercut, then finished the job with a left-right-left on the ropes that rendered Nyika unconscious.

JUSTIS HUNI ANNIHILATES SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPION SHAUN POTGIETER

In the co-main event, heavyweight prospect Justis Huni scored one of the best wins of his career with a second-round annihilation of South African champion Shaun Potgieter.

Huni landed a flush right that staggered Potgieter, and the follow-up barrage on the ropes saw the referee step in 33 seconds into the round to halt the contest.

Huni, 25, is now 12-0 (7KO), but suggested injury woes may keep him out of a mooted fight in March.

Having fought twice in a month, Huni was being lined up for another show in Australia in two months but hinted he may have a lay-off to treat undisclosed injuries.

“I’m continuing to get better each time I step out here, the more active I am the better I get,” Huni said.

“I was in the ring not long ago, and to be back here on a card like this is massive for my career going forward.

“I’ve got some injuries I’ve got to take care of, but as soon as I’m able I’ll be back in the ring.”

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said he is positioning Huni for a world title showdown in Australia in future.

TEREMOANA TEREMOANA DEMOLISHES GERMANY’S OSASU OTOBO

Rising heavyweight star Teremoana Teremoana Jr demolished Germany’s Osasu Otobo in just 57 seconds with a devastating first round knockout.

Teremoana dropped Otobo with a massive left hand and Otobo could not rise before the 10-count.

Australia’s Paris 2023 Olympian continued to show his enormous potential and moved to 6-0 (6KO), while Otobo dropped to (11-2-1, 5KO).

“If you want to fight, I’m coming to fight and I’m going to take it from you,” the 205cm giant said following his win.

Hearn said of Teremoana: “I truly believe Australia has the chance of a future world heavyweight champion … I believe he’s going all the way to a world heavyweight title.”

Ben Mahoney scored a dominating victory over Fan Zhang to capture the IBF Pan-Pacific super-welterweight title.

Mahoney claimed victory with all three judges scoring it 100-90, despite a tough battle from Zhang.

The undefeated Mahoney is now 15-0-1 (8KO) while the game Zhang drops to 8-3-1 (5KO).

Max “Money” McIntyre stopped Abdulselam Salam in the fifth round of their IBF Youth super-middleweight title fight.

Rising talent McIntyre put Salam down with a looping right, then dropped him again with a body shot. With the upper hand, McIntyre landed a huge right that sent Salam’s head rocking backwards, leading the referee to step in and stop the fight.

The 20-year-old McIntyre moves to 7-0 (6KO) and is clearly one to watch.

Originally published as Jai Opetaia destroys David Nyika as promoter suggests Oleksandr Usyk fight