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Set to take place in Auckland on Saturday night, the IBF eliminator shapes as a huge opportunity for the winner … and a future that could include Opetaia, US superstar David Benavidez, or both.<\/p>\n
WHY IS THIS FIGHT HAPPENING?<\/p>\n
Put simply, because Australia\u2019s Jai Opetaia has been stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title.<\/p>\n
After signing with Dana White\u2019s Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, Opetaia had the gold strap yanked from around his waist, with Saturday night\u2019s winner set to face the top contender, Englishman Viddal Riley, for the vacant strap.<\/p>\n
WHY IS DAVID NYIKA HERE?<\/p>\n
Long considered one of the cruiserweight division\u2019s Next Big Things, Nyika has taken only one loss in his 13 professional fights \u2013 and even that was against the division\u2019s most feared slugger, Jai Opetaia.<\/p>\n
Challenging Opetaia for the IBF cruiserweight title on just 18 days notice, the New Zealander looked strong early before being caught, and brutally stopped. <\/p>\n
In the almost two years since, Nyika has won twice while also taking a prolonged break from the sport to help his partner Lexy overcome an incredibly tough cancer battle.<\/p>\n
Nyika is ranked at No.5 with the IBF.<\/p>\n
David Nyika and Floyd MassonSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
WHY IS FLOYD MASSON HERE?<\/p>\n
Because he\u2019s Australia\u2019s best cruiserweight not named Jai Opetaia. Or certainly that\u2019s the case as far as world rankings go, with the Queenslander also a former holder of the IBO cruiserweight title once owned by Danny Green.<\/p>\n
Despite losing a big fight against Poland\u2019s Mateusz Masternak in 2024, Masson has since responded with three straight wins to again put himself within one win of another world title opportunity.<\/p>\n
Masson is ranked at No.6 with the IBF.<\/p>\n
WEIRDEST STORYLINE TO THIS FIGHT?<\/p>\n
These two fighters grew up only 20 minutes apart in New Zealand, with Masson having also also spent countless hours inside Nyika\u2019s childhood home as good friends with the fighter\u2019s sister. Masson also knows the entire Nyika family incredibly well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to be over at his house quite a lot,\u201d Masson grins. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know his parents really well, and have known David since he was young. He\u2019s a few younger than me, so I was fighting at 75kg then and he was at 60kg. Real skinny kid. And he always had this great energy about him. Had a lot of talent and worked hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Says Nyika: \u201cWe first met when Floyd was 15. He was good friends with my older sister and would always be the designated driver for house parties. So we\u2019d always sit around talking boxing in my family home.\u201d<\/p>\n
WHAT ARE THE BOOKIES SAYING?<\/p>\n
According to Sportsbet, Nyika is the $1.22 favourite, with Masson having already been wound out to almost five bucks. When it comes to most likely method of victory, a Nyika KO is paying $1.69 and a decision victory $4. He is shortest odds to finish in either the seventh or eighth rounds.<\/p>\n
HOW DOES THIS FIGHT CHANGE THE CRUISERWEIGHT LANDSCAPE?<\/p>\n
Undeniably, there will be a host of huge options should either of these men eventually become IBF cruiserweight king against Viddal Riley.<\/p>\n
But exactly who that will be against? It all depends on how things play out over the next couple of months, with Zuffa announcing earlier this week that Opetaia will fight WBC champ Noel Mikaelian in Las Vegas come September.<\/p>\n
Bizarrely, there have also been reports this week suggesting Mikaelian had already agreed to fight US superstar David Benavidez, who is the division\u2019s other big name alongside Opetaia after moving up this year and claiming WBA and WBO gold.<\/p>\n
Should Opetaia win WBC gold, he could then throw down in a superfight with Benavidez. And for whoever holds the IBF strap, that could then mean a lucrative undisputed blockbuster against the winner.<\/p>\n
Floyd Masson and David NyikaSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
WHAT CHANCE THE WINNER FIGHTS OPETAIA?<\/p>\n
Absolutely, that\u2019s also possible, and would certainly make an intriguing storyline should it be Nyika defending IBF gold.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd while it will all come down to the politics of boxing,\u201d the New Zealander shrugs, \u201cI really do feel our paths with cross again\u201d.<\/p>\n
Masson, meanwhile, is also excited by the idea of an Opetaia showdown, adding: \u201cI want to fight the best, and that\u2019s Jai Opetaia. Right now, all my focus is on David Nyika but to eventually win the world title and then defend against Jai would be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
THE UNUSUAL AUSSIE LINK<\/p>\n
Despite growing up just minutes apart in New Zealand, both men now reside in Queensland, with Masson, a father of twin daughters, fighting under the Australian flag after initially moving here 15 years ago as a teenage amateur.<\/p>\n
Nyika, meanwhile, is having his first fight back since partner Lexy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, with the 30-year-old dropping everything to assist her through a lengthy treatment and recovery.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s Auckland fight doubles as her first trip since beating the disease.<\/p>\n
FIGHTER IN \u201cKILL MODE\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking at Friday\u2019s press conference, Nyika stressed his intentions for the man he has known well for more than 15 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in kill mode right now,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is what I\u2019ve built myself to do over the last 16 years. I\u2019m a trained killer \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
On Masson, he continued: \u201cHe may work harder than me in the gym. He may. But if hard work led to success the donkey would own the farm. I believe that I\u2019m a tier above Floyd and I\u2019m going to prove that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think Floyd has an issue around his gas tank but there\u2019s a fair bit of scar tissue around his eyes and his nose looks like it\u2019s had a bit of damage in the past so that\u2019s something I\u2019m conscious of as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about that last quote, Masson replied: \u201cOh man, I guess my face is just how it is. It\u2019s ready \u2026 ready for war.\u201d<\/p>\n
MORE BOXING:<\/p>\n
Not my problem\u2019: Aussie boxing queen\u2019s blunt call over rival with \u2018chip on her shoulder\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n