David Nyika and Blake Caparello face-off in the course of the David Nyika Street to the Title Opponent Announcement Photograph Alternative and Press Convention at SkyCity Tower and SkyCity Grand Resort. 10 July 2024 © Copyright photograph: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
David Nyika will encounter a former title challenger for his first DAZN headliner.
The 2020 Olympic Bronze medalist is ready to face Australia’s Blake Caparello in a scheduled twelve-round cruiserweight contest. The matchup was confirmed throughout a press convention held Wednesday to formally announce the Sept. 14 DAZN occasion at Viaduct Occasions Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.
“David should show that he’s a lower above people who have gone down this path earlier than,” mentioned David Higgins, Nyika’s promoter. “Boxing aficionados had big wraps on guys like Robbie ‘The Butcher’ Berridge, Dan MacKinnon and Reece Papanui and people guys ended up being completely outclassed.
“[Caparello] took on probably the most feared fighters of a technology in Sergey Kovalev and sat him on his bottom within the opening spherical.”
The laborious promote however, Nyika (9-0, 8 knockouts) is now offered together with his most notable identify so far. The unbeaten New Zealander—now primarily based in Queensland—has but to be prolonged past the fifth spherical. He took out former secondary titlist Robert Berridge (30-11-1, 22 KOs) within three rounds in what was meant as a step up final November.
In his most up-to-date begin, Nyika stopped Michael Seitz within the fourth spherical on the Might 18 Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury undercard in Riyadh. He now expects a extra formidable problem for his first battle in Auckland since his Feb. 2021 professional debut.
“No disrespect to any of these Kiwi boys who took on Caparello and obtained overwhelmed,” Nyika mentioned. “They’re all nice fighters in their very own proper – however none of them are me. To me, Blake Caparello is simply one other step on the street to a world title.”
Caparello (32-4-1, 15 KOs), 37, has solely been stopped as soon as in 37 professional fights.
It got here in his Aug. 2014 WBO 175-pound title problem versus Kovalev, whom he dropped within the first spherical. Kovalev stormed again to cease Caparello within the second spherical of their battle of unbeaten gentle heavyweights.
Caparello enters driving a modest two-fight win streak as he steps again properly up in competitors. The battle takes place a full division previous his efficient weight however feels it’s Nyika who’s in over his head.
“Nyika is untested as knowledgeable, he hasn’t gone previous 5 rounds but,” acknowledged Caparello. “I’ve been 10 and 12 rounds greater than a dozen occasions towards the world’s finest. I’ve headlined exhibits on ESPN and HBO in America.
“Let’s see what he’s obtained when the going will get robust.”
The battle is the primary below a multi-fight take care of DAZN by Duco Occasions, Thornberry Promotions and Parker Promotions. The latter entity is headed by former WBO heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker, the present interim titleholder who makes his promotional debut.
