David Nyika

David Kieran Nyika (born 7 August 1995) is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a gold medal at both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as competing at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.[1][2][3][4] Nyika and Sarah Hirini were the New Zealand flag bearers at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[5][6] Nyika gained significant media attention after an incident during the Round of 16 at the 2020 Summer Olympics in which Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempted to bite Nyika's ear.[7][8][9][10]

David Nyika
Statistics
Real nameDavid Kieran Nyika
Weight(s)Cruiserweight
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Reach79 in (201 cm)
NationalityNew Zealander
Born (1995-08-07) 7 August 1995
Hamilton, New Zealand
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights2
Wins2
Wins by KO2
Losses0
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
2020 Tokyo Heavyweight
Commonwealth Games
2014 GlasgowLight heavyweight
2018 Gold CoastHeavyweight

Amateur career

2020 Summer Olympics
See also: Boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's heavyweight

On July 27, 2021, Nyika won a Round of 16 match against Moroccan Youness Baalla in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. In what was described by commentators as a "disgraceful act", during the third round, Baalla attempted to bite Nyika.[11] The biting incident overshadowed the competition as New Zealand media reported that it "marred" Nyika's Olympic debut.[12] The incident drew comparisons to Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield's 1997 fight in which Tyson repeatedly bit Holyfield's ear.[13]

On August 3, 2021, David Nyika won a bronze medal after being defeated in the men's heavyweight semifinal against Russian Olympic Committee's Muslim Gadzhimagomedov.[14]

Commonwealth Game results

Glasgow 2014

Gold Coast 2018

  • Round of 16: Defeated Yakita Aska (Antigua and Barbuda) 5–0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated Christian Ndzie Tsoye (Cameroon) W/O
  • Semi-finals: Defeated Cheavon Clarke (England) 5–0
  • Final: Defeated Jason Whateley (Australia) 5–0

World Championship results

Hamburg 2017

  • Round of 16: Defeated Igor Teziev (Germany) 5–0
  • Quarter-finals: Defeated by Evgeny Tishchenko (Russia) 4–1

Yekaterinburg 2019

  • Round of 32: Defeated Ahmed Hagag (Austria) 5–0
  • Round of 16: Defeated by Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (Russia) 5–0

Olympic Games results

Tokyo 2020

Professional career

Early career

On 26 January 2021, it was announced that Nyika would make his professional debut against Jesse Maio on the undercard of Joseph Parker vs. Junior Fa on 27 February 2021.[15][16]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
2 fights 2 wins 0 losses
By knockout 2 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
2 Win 2–0 Anthony Carpin RTD 1 (4), 3:00 18 Dec 2021 AO Arena, Manchester, England
1 Win 1–0 Jesse Maio KO 1 (6), 0:29 27 Feb 2021 Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand

References
  1. "The Top Boxing Prospects from the 2014 Commonwealth Games". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. "NZ fans spur Nyika to boxing gold". rnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. "Kiwi heavyweight boxer David Nyika ousted from world championships in controversial decision". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. "Jerome Pampellone stars at World Championships, David Nyika sent packing". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. "Tokyo Olympics 2020: New Zealand's last-minute flagbearer change as Olympics officially begin with opening ceremony". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. "Tokyo Olympics: Schedule change calls Kiwi rowing eights into early Games action". Newshub. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. "Tokyo Olympics: David Nyika cruises into quarterfinals after attempted bite from Morocco's Youness Baalla". Stuff. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  8. "David Nyika on receiving end of bite attempt in Olympic boxing debut". RNZ. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. "Rival attempts bite on Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika". TVNZ. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  10. "Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempts to bite New Zealand's David Nyika | NBC Olympics". www.nbcolympics.com. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  11. "Boxing-New Zealand's Nyika bitten but not beaten on Games debut". Reuters. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  12. "Tokyo Olympics 2020: Boxing – Kiwi heavyweight David Nyika's Games win marred by disgraceful act". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  13. readJuly 27, less than 2 min; Newsroom, 2021-4:14PMNews Corp Australia Sports (27 July 2021). "He bit his ear! Boxer's outrageous Mike Tyson move". adelaidenow. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  14. "Kiwi boxer David Nyika wins bronze after semifinal defeat". TVNZ. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  15. "Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa: As Tokyo Olympics uncertainty continues, David Nyika finds opponent for pro debut". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  16. "Kiwi boxer David Nyika confident of crushing victory on professional debut". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
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