David Nyika used daily affirmations to stay focused on his task of destroying IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia in their fight on January 8.
Psychological warfare
Nyika (10-0, 9 KO) committed physical wear and tear to Opetaia (26-0, 20 KO) and knocked him out in their title fight, live on DAZN at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia.
There are 13 days until the two powerhouse punchers meet and Nyika is ready to take the IBF crown off Opetai's head to expose him.
Obadiah's vulnerability
How vulnerable Opetaia is, the boxing public already saw in the recent rematch against Mairis Briedis on May 18. When things were going well at the start of that fight, Jai looked invincible, but things changed completely when Briedis heated up the Australian, attacking relentlessly in the second half of the contest.
After seeing his blood, Opetaia mentally collapsed, looking terrified. Seeing Briedis put bully Opetai in his place was an eye opener. You could see the fear in Opetaja's eyes.
Nyika must have seen it mental weakness in Opetaia and will attack him like a shark, not allowing him to fight the way he normally does against the weaker fighters his promoters have matched him up against. Nyika's punching power is similar to that of Briedis, and the aggressive style is also on the same level. He is kryptonite for Opetaja.
“I am ready for anything. I don't even know what I'm doing in the gym. They tell me how many times I have to be here,” said Jai Opetaia TCB network. “I train at 9:30, 11:00 and 4:30 every day. I don't even know what I'm doing. I just know how long I have to be here, and whatever they throw at me, I do the best I can.
“I don't stick to a routine because if the routine doesn't happen, then what? Before, I hung around the fights and didn't even warm up. I wrapped my arms and went straight out. These are the things you have to be prepared for,” Opetaia said.
David Nyika shows the affirmations he looks at every morning ahead of his world title fight against Jai Opetaia on January 8th 👀 pic.twitter.com/X9xkKMnO1P
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) December 28, 2024