Heavyweight David Nyika has successfully defended his Oceania boxing title with a unanimous points decision win over Australian No.1 Jason Whateley on the Gold Coast. <\/p>\n
It's the Hamilton fighter's third straight victory over the Victorian and was sweet redemption after missing out on the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. <\/p>\n
Nyika burst on to the scene at just 18, when he won gold as a light heavyweight at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games three years ago, and now feels he's completed the step up. <\/p>\n
\"I'm a fully fledged heavyweight now, which has given me a lot of confidence when I can sit and tangle with the likes of Jason, who's a good fighter,\" he said on Thursday. <\/p>\n
The result means the 21-year-old has qualified for the world championships starting in Hamburg in late August. <\/p>\n
Nyika isn't expecting an easy ride when he travels to Europe, with a number of Olympians still fighting as amateurs. <\/p>\n
\"I think most of the medallists are still hanging about as a lot of the boxers from countries like Russia and Kazakhstan don't turn professional, so they're probably just in hibernation,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"We'll be ready for the best of the best and that's all we can train for.\" <\/p>\n
He's also refusing to look too far ahead and the chance of winning another Commonwealth gold in Queensland next April. <\/p>\n
\"I'm not too worried about studying different opponents at the world champs,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"All I have to do is keep developing like I've been doing and, if all goes well, I'll be in tip-top shape for the Commonwealth Games next year.\" <\/p>\n
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Kiwi boxer David Nyika retains Oceania heavyweight boxing title ... - Newshub<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Heavyweight David Nyika has successfully defended his Oceania boxing title with a unanimous points decision win over Australian No.1 Jason Whateley on the Gold Coast. Continue reading