Nyika itching for action
New Zealand boxing’s golden boy David Nyika is finally set to return to the ring five months on from his Commonwealth Games success.
A combination of a niggly back and a blank fighting calendar have kept the Hamilton heavyweight inactive since his impressive effort on the Gold Coast in April that backed up gold at Glasgow four years earlier.
He has used the downtime wisely and is now in peak condition for the national championships in Christchurch early next month.
‘‘It’s been a quiet time but I have been busy with my own training, looking after injuries, and making sure the body is in shape,’’ the 23-year-old told Stuff.
‘‘It was good to have a bit of time to go through the usual sort of off-season rehab. I’m absolutely 100 per cent now, back sparring 10-plus rounds. There is no issue with my physical ability . . . I’m super fit, superready, I think I could probably fight this weekend if I needed to.’’
Nyika’s long-term future is still up in the air, clouded by boxing’s fight to stay in the Olympics as the sport battles corruption allegations that threaten its presence at Tokyo 2020.
Nyika anticipates a decision before the end of the year that will determine what route he takes.
If Tokyo gets the green light, he’s likely to stay amateur and pursue what has proven to be an elusive Olympic dream. Otherwise he will join what he expects to be a rush of boxers turning professional.
Nyika is a focused individual. He has to be. For the past year he has taken control of his own destiny after splitting with longtime coach Rik Ellis.
He is being helped by older brother Josh and father Simon who both now have their coaching licences, but he’s not looking for a main man in his corner right now.
‘‘I’ve learned to look after myself and what I need to be a world class athlete,’’ he said. ‘‘I guess it’s just keeping myself accountable. My brother and dad are involved keeping me on track.
‘‘I know what I need out of myself and I’m pretty honest about myself. I guess I’m wary of coaches taking me away from the style that works for me.’’
Leading into the last Commonwealth Games he had two stints with the British Lionhearts in the World Series Boxing, an amateur team run under the guidance of the Great Britain programme. He enjoyed working in a world class environment and ‘‘picked up pieces to add to my own campaign’’.
Nyika was unable to take up an invitation to join Joseph Parker and trainer Kevin Barry at their Las Vegas camp when Parker made a late change to his schedule by fighting Dillian Whyte in July.
That option still stands and Nyika hopes to take it up, possibly for a New Zealand stint that would avoid travelling to the United States.
Superbly conditioned, he works hard at his training and spends time on the road travelling to Auckland, Tauranga and Taupo chasing quality sparring.
That has included stepping into the ring with MMA fighters such as Luke Jumeau and this weekend he hopes to spar with New Zealand’s latest UFC sensation Israel Adesanya along with rising professional heavyweight boxer Junior Fa.
‘‘Those MMA guys always bring a slightly different flavour to the training so it’s always interesting,’’ he said.
‘‘Coming up against different styles is important. You always have to overcome adversity and adapt in split seconds in the ring, so it’s good to have some crazy styles to spar with.’’