Nyika laps up Games pressure
David Nyika hopes there is a target on his back when he attends the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April.
The 81kg Commonwealth Games gold medallist in Glasgow has since stepped up to the heavyweight division, and will seek to repeat his feat and claim gold in the 91kg category.
At least three fighters Nyika came across at the 2014 Games are expected to be in the heavyweight draw this year, including his final opponent, Kennedy St Pierre of Mauritius.
With a glowing and growing reputation in the world of amateur boxing, Nyika is hoping his rivals will be focused on that.
‘‘I hope so,’’ Nyika said of having a target on his back. ‘‘I’m not reading too much into past performances. I’ve improved a lot and I’m always working hard on getting better.’’
That work has been taking place all around the globe, with his most recent camp coming in the United Kingdom with the British Lionhearts.
That has given Nyika the chance to train with the British Olympic team, and get sparring and fight time with some of the best in the world.
It’s the kind of quality sparring he can’t get in New Zealand, meaning he is in a privileged position on his return home.
Nyika is one of eight members of the New Zealand boxing team for Gold Coast, including London Olympian Alexis Pritchard in the women’s 57kg class.
Glasgow athletes Patrick Mailata (men’s 91+kg), who twice fought Joseph Parker while Parker was still an amateur, and Leroy Hindley (men’s 69kg) who placed fifth at the 2014 Games, are also in the New Zealand squad.
They’ll be joined by Games debutants Richard Hadlow (men’s 64kg), Ryan Scaife (men’s 75kg), Tasmyn Benny (women’s 48kg) and Troy Garton (women’s 60kg). Scaife will follow in the family footsteps – his grandfather Alan boxed for New Zealand at the 1954 Empire Games in Vancouver, placing fourth.
Nyika, 22, hopes to become the first New Zealand boxer to win back to back gold at the Games, and said his dreams from when he started boxing are slowly coming to fruition. ‘‘I had a dream and a lot of it has come to pass,’’ Nyika said of his career to date.
Boxing New Zealand high performance manager Harry Otty said the squad named featured a mixture of youth and experience.
He said it was great to have three elite women competing, and is hopeful of strong performances.
‘‘They have all put in an incredible amount of work and have sacrificed a good deal to be where they are now.’’