David Nyika has another shot at the IBF cruiserweight world title after a narrow victory over a tough Floyd Masson in what the Kiwi described in the immediate aftermath as an “ugly but great fight”.
Nyika hopes to fight English title holder Viddal Riley in Auckland in December but, as ever in boxing, it will come down to money and how much the undefeated Riley, 29, wants to give up home advantage.
The 31-year-old Nyika, an Olympic bronze medallist, had to call on every bit of his experience and home support on Auckland’s North Shore last night to subdue the challenge of his Te Awamutu-born, Brisbane-dwelling opponent Masson.
Nyika won the title eliminator by unanimous decision, with one judge scoring the 12-round bout 116-111 and the other two 115-112, but he appeared to be down on points at the halfway mark.
For the record, 1News scored it 115-112 and had the more aggressive Masson winning four of the first six rounds.
There is no doubt that Nyika finished the stronger, however, and the pressure he was able to put on Masson finally told in the final round when the Aussie was deducted a point for losing his mouthguard for the fourth time.
At that point Masson, who walked forward and pressured Nyika all night, required a stoppage to win but it was the home crowd favourite who was the aggressor in the end.
“I’d like to take my hat off to Floyd Masson - you are a worthy adversary,” Nyika said in the ring afterwards before calling out Riley.
“Viddal Riley, I’m coming for you next,” he said. “Let’s bring it to New Zealand.”
There appeared to be an element of relief in Nyika’s reaction to his victory and there was a hint of frustration in the 10th round when he flung Masson to the canvas after a clinch.
Masson, a southpaw, consistently scored with combinations in the early stages, his left hand coming through nicely against a very cagey Nyika who saw his dream crushed in his last major fight – for the IBF world title against Jai Opetaia, another southpaw - in January last year.
But standing outside his dressing room afterwards, Nyika was far more positive about his performance than he was initially, saying it was the perfect preparation for what is to come.
Having said that, he may be secretly thankful that Riley is not a southpaw because it was clear he took a while to work out Masson.
“There was always going to be adversity… I just had to adapt on the fly,” Nyika said. “I implemented my game plan. I wanted to stab his body. I don’t think people appreciate what the jab to a southpaw’s body does – it’s on the side with the liver. I saw it getting red in the first two or three rounds so I knew I was hitting the button.”
In the end, Masson, who must have been close to even on the cards after 10 rounds, was swinging desperately, his loss of mouthguard control a symptom of his distress.
“I was catching him with some pretty snappy left hooks,” Nyika said. “At the end of the day I think I was landing the heavier shots.”
Masson, marked by deep bruises under each eye, said in the ring afterwards: “I gave it my all tonight. I just couldn’t get off the shots I wanted but that’s boxing, man.”
There was good news, too, for Hamilton favourite and IBF women’s international super lightweight title holder Sheilla Yama, who showed excellent ring craft in beating Jessica Messina by unanimous decision over 10 rounds.
In other notable results on the undercard, former All Black Liam Messam beat Luke Siaki by TKO in the third round and former Kiwi and Warrior Manu Vatuvei stopped former All Black Rene Ranger with a first-round TKO.
Ranger, on debut in the ring, was utterly outmatched by the far more accomplished and experienced Vatuvei and the fight could easily have been stopped earlier than it was.
The biggest upset of the night came in a heavyweight clash between John Parker, brother of Joseph, and Kyle Merewether, a 42-year-old from Taupo who took the fight on a few days’ notice.
Merewether showed excellent skills and fitness to dominate an out-of-shape Parker over six rounds with a split decision victory.
“This is the biggest stage I’ve been on… I’ve wanted to fight John for three years now and it’s finally happened,” Merewether said afterwards. “I’m so over the moon. This is one for the old fellas with the beer bellies.”
SHARE ME