The goal that David Nyika has held close to his heart for many years now has finally been achieved. The Heavyweight hitter from Hamilton has just qualified for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games and is the first male boxer from New Zealand to do so in the last 16 years. It’s been a tough journey, but he made it.
The two-time Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics four years ago after dealing with judging decisions deemed highly controversial. It was a devastating setback, but he soldiered on.
This time around, he and nine other boxers from New Zealand were forced to reschedule plans after the Qualifying Tournament for the Asia Oceania contingent underwent a move at very late notice. The venue was changed from Wuhan in China to Amman in Jordan after the global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Kiwi team then hit another bump after a coronavirus scare popped up while they were training in Italy.
Nyika, however, managed a first-round bye in the 91kg category thanks to his second-ranking for the tournament, which saw his pushed straight through to the Quarterfinals. Here faced a make-or-break fight versus Alaa Aldin Ghousoon from Syria on which his Olympic dream depended.
Over the past four years, Nyika’s grandfather died, he endured a split from Rick Ellis, his long-time coach, and put on 10kgs to move up a weight division. The boxer called this past period an emotional, mental, and physical rollercoaster but is glad he’s made it through.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | BetEasy |  | 5/5 | 100% Match Bonus | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Ladbrokes | | 4.9/5 | 100% Match up to $250 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
McKean Wants to Pick a Fight With Parker
Demsey McKean, the unbeaten Australian Heavyweight fighter, seems to think he has the style and the size to beat New Zealander Joseph Parker as talks heat up about a trans-Tasman resumption of Boxing. David Higgins, Parker’s Manager, and promoters from Britain’s Matchroom Boxing are eager to take advantage of the ….
Boxing & Martial Arts Gyms Reopen With Restrictions
Security measures like keeping their equipment spotlessly clean and totally separated and minimising contact between people are being undertaken as Gyms offering Martial Arts and Boxing reopen under Alert Level 2. Palmerston North’s Snapback Boxing, which counts children and vulnerable youth among its clientele, is one of the many gyms ….
Joseph Parker Set for NZ Return in August
New Zealand Boxing’s Joseph Parker is set to return to New Zealand in August this year. The Heavyweight will be fighting for a select live audience in a fight to help launch the DAZN streaming service in our country. Parker’s Manager, David Higgins, has been working on the upcoming event ….
Boxer Joseph Parker in the Fight Against Negativity
Joseph Parker, the one-time Heavyweight Boxing World Title holder, spent lockdown in his family home in Auckland, along with his personal videographer Kerry Russell. And over the past fortnight, the pair have created several light-hearted videos and then shared them on social media to keep people’s spirits up. There were ….
Kiwi Boxer Calls Coronavirus A Hoax
Anthony Mundine has earned himself a reputation for being straightforward inside and outside the Boxing ring and he’s wading into the coronavirus COVID-19 issue with guns blazing, saying that there’s a new world order unfolding and that this disease is fake. The 44-year old has made some pretty weird comments ….