The first thing rising Kiwi boxing star David Nyika notices about his next rival is his hands.
After an amateur career that featured two Commonwealth Games gold medals and an Olympic bronze, Nyika will take his burgeoning pro career to a new level when he headlines against American journeyman Tommy Karpency in Auckland this weekend.
Karpency, 38, brings a record of 31 wins, eight losses and a draw across an 18-year career that has seen him fight for world light-heavyweight titles three times — all resulting in defeats.
He's a late replacement against Nyika, after original opponent Blake Caparello failed a pre-fight drug test, but has already impressed the NZ camp with his readiness to embrace the late call-up — and the size of his hands.
"Huge hands... those are proper meat cleavers, man," admired Nyika during an official media conference that saw the two combatants seated next to each other in amicable fashion.
"It's important to recognise Tommy is a seasoned veteran and you can literally see it in the calcification in his hands, but he's just another beef sandwich, man, and Dave's got to eat. He's just another opponent and another scalp in my record."
Karpency chuckles. He's probably heard this kind of brave talk more times than Dave's had hot dinners.
The gritty Pennsylvania native began his boxing career after winning a 'Toughman' contest. With a record of 21-2-1, he was pitted against Welshmen Nathan Cleverly for the WBO light-heavyvweight crown, losing a unanimous points decision.
Next fight, he fell to Pole Andrzej Fonfara in the seventh round, with the IBO crown at stake. Karpency went more than a year before stepping back into the ring, but rekindled his prospects with a surprise win over former world champion Chad Dawson.
He would stumble again at the last hurdle, when he lost to Canadian Adonis Stevenson for the WBC light-heavyweight belt in 2015. Over time, Karpency has become something of a yardstick for contenders in that division to measure themselves against... which makes him a perfect match-up for Nyika in the heavier cruiserweight class so early in his own unbeaten (9-0) pro tenure.
"I've got a lot of respect for this man," assessed former world champion Danny Green, part of the fight commentary team. "Guys like Tommy Karpency are essential to the sport of boxing, because they're tough, rugged hard men who have no fear and will show up to fight anyone at any time.
"That's why he's here now and that's why I have so much respect for him for taking the fight at late notice."
Karpency suffered a second-round knockout defeat to Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez in September 2021, but ended a three-year absence with victory over American Joe Jones last month.
"I always try to keep myself in pretty good shape," said Karpency, who immediately impresses as a pragmatist not given to extravagant gestures of bravado.
"We had a fight not too long ago, so when this opportunity arose, we grabbed it. I've been fortunate in my career to have a lot of opportunities come my way to fight world champions and world-class fighters.
"This is another opportunity for me to break into a bigger fight."
'Nervous'
Green sees the late change as another challenge for Nyika to overcome as he continues to perfect his craft.
"They now have to readjust their whole gameplan, so it's going to be a very interesting fight," he said. "David Nyika is not going to have it all his own way and I expect Tommy Karpency to give David a lot of trouble early, but I expect David to settle in, find his groove and pick him apart."
Nyika's trainer, Noel Thornberry, admits he's nervous about Karpency's late arrival, with the newcomer representing a leap in standard from Caparello.
"The difference between the two... Blake's fought at the top level, so has Tommy Karpency, but he's been successful at the top level against some of the better fighters out there over the last 10 years.
"We're not taking him lightly at all. As a matter of fact, it makes me more nervous, because it's very short notice, Tommy's just had a bout, he's in the gym and training all the time, and he's a world-class fighter.
"It's a challenge for David and definitely a step up."
Co-promoter Joseph Parker also talks up prospects for the match-up.
"A fighter that takes a fight on late notice is a fighter who believes in himself and a fighter who is here to fight," said the former WBO heavyweight champion.
Karpency hears all the talk of how he's another stepping stone in he Nyika's march towards a world title fight, but it doesn't faze him an ounce.
"I'm here to win and we'll see when the bell rings."
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