DAVID NYIKA

We pick out a boxer who’s planning on making an impact this year

ONLY 22 years old, the New Zealand heavyweight is one well worth watching.

The Commonwealth Games are often a playground for the home nations with England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland typically by far the strongest teams competing overall.

Such was the case in the last edition, but David Nyika was an exciting exception when he won gold in good style at Glasgow 2014 when he was just 18.

Subsequently he moved up from 81kgs to heavyweight. He was disappointed not to qualify for the last Olympic Games but since that letdown he has pushed on to box at a high standard.

Impressing in the World Series of Boxing, he pushed Evgeny Tishchenko close at the World championships last year.