Kiwi Nyika cruises into boxing final

Kiwi pugilist David Nyika will fight for gold in the men’s 91kg boxing class at the Commonwealth Games.

The Glasgow 2014 gold medallist beat Englishman Cheavon Clarke in a unanimous points decision on the Gold Coast yesterday. The first semifinal was won by Australia’s Jason Whateley in a unanimous points decision over India’s Naman Tanwar.

Nyika has a 3-0 record over Whateley.

‘‘It went exactly to plan,’’ Nyika said soon after seeing off the determined Englishman.

‘‘I felt like I was building into the fight – Cheav was always going to bring some issues. I’m glad he did – that brings out the best of me.’’

Nyika was guaranteed a medal when his quarterfinal opponent from the Cameroon, Christian Ndzie Tsoye, failed to front. It was later discovered he was one of eight Cameroon athletes who had gone missing from the Commonwealth Games village.

Earlier, New Zealand’s Troy Garton knew she’d torn an ACL in her knee before she stepped into the ring.

Garton claimed bronze in the women’s 57-60kg class when she lost a unanimous points decision in her semifinal against Australia’s Swedish-born Anja Stridsman.

‘‘I’ve got a completely torn ACL,’’ she said, pointing to her right knee. ‘‘So I can’t . . . [Garton bounced back into a side-on stance] . . . ow, that hurts.

The injury occurred the day before she was due to leave, when sparring with the team.

‘‘I didn’t know what I’d done, but I couldn’t walk on it that night. The next day on the plane, it was a bit sore and on the Monday the doctor told me ‘I’m taking you for an MRI’.

‘‘I’m going ‘No no no no no, I’m

PHOTO: PHOTOSPORT New Zealand’s David Nyika, left, gets the decision in his favour against England’s Cheavon Clarke, putting the Kiwi into the gold medal fight today.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES New Zealand’s Troy Garton, left, slugs it out with Anja Stridsman. The Australian won their semifinal, meaning a bronze medal for Garton.