Rising cruiserweight David Nyika will fight on Saturday night on the large stage in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
The Novel Zealander is well aware he has to impress after being given a golden opportunity to fight on a spectacular card ahead of the historic heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
However, Nyika (8-0, 7 KO) is also trying to win for another purpose, raising money for the cause Foundation Against Malaria, paying $10 for each punch landed by both him and his opponent Michael Seitz (12-0, 10 KO). Fans can also make donations. More than $25,000 has already been raised for people in Uganda affected by malaria – especially children – and it’s a cause close to Nyika’s hearts.
“I obviously shove things down people’s throats on social media, but I feel like it’s very straightforward for me to keep doing that,” Nyika tells ESPN. “I’m going to fight challenging like I always do, throw a lot of punches and raise a lot of money for a really nippy cause.
“I have always wanted to return to Uganda, where my father’s heritage comes from. I have three nephews under five who might as well live there [different] circumstances if we were a few generations earlier. It’s a good way to give back, it’s only a miniature percentage of what I’ll earn in my next fight.”
Nyika works with High Impact Athletes, an organization that helps athletes utilize their profiles to support those in need. Tennis stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Bianca Andreescu, as well as heavyweight Joseph Parker, also work with the charity.
“I see that thanks to this my fan base will augment and my credibility in boxing will augment. [the fundraising] will continue to develop. If this seed takes root and comes to fruition, something truly attractive will happen at the end of my career,” says Nyika. “Regardless of whether it succeeds, [or not] I can’t tell you this, but I am asking everyone to join the campaign and make a miniature donation. It really takes an army to make a difference.”
In the ring, Nyika has a chance to impress Saudi powerbrokers and break into the WBO and IBF rankings. He can thank Tyson Fury’s team after earning their respect through training camps with Fury and his compatriot Parker.
“You only have one chance to impress the Saudis, so we will give it our all and give it our all,” says Nyika. “I was able to take advantage of this opportunity by getting to know Tyson and his inner circle. I managed to impress his manager, Spencer Brown, through sparring and more. He made it his mission to put me on this card and expose me to the world. This is my one chance, one chance, Eminem, “Lose Yourself” moment. It’s a really great opportunity to perform on the biggest stage.
As she charts her path to the top, Nyika draws inspiration from others in her part of the world, including Parker and Australians Jai Opetaia, Justis Huni and Skye Nicolson. Even more encouraging are his experiences sparring with cruiserweight champions Opetaia and Chris Billam-Smith, among others.
“Yes, I was actually asked to come to the camp [Chris] so I know him well. I know my style doesn’t suit him at all and if I had my way, I would have taken him out of there pretty early,” says Nyika.
“Jai is a completely different animal. We went to war a few times, and to be candid, he probably beat me more times than I did, but the tides started to change. I would like to think about it in the future, over the next 18 months our paths will cross and I will be able to emerge victorious. Honestly, I feel like I’ve changed so many things in the last 18-24 months that I didn’t know I had.”
Mike Tyson can boast the seventh defeat of his career after a one-sided loss to Jake Paul on Friday evening in Texas.
Tyson accepted a $20 million payout, leaving a lasting stain on his boxing and sport. Tyson is 50-7, two winless, and will never be able to remove the check mark from his resume.
Fans of the heavyweight legend will forever have to deal with the fact that Tyson was brought out of retirement to take on an influencer in exchange for content, praise and clicks. Fans who grew up watching Mike rule the world as the youngest ever top-flight ruler and undisputed champion will undoubtedly have a difficult time accepting the fact that Tyson is no longer 50-6.
Having lost four of his last five fights, Tyson should have retired after beating Lennox Lewis 49-3.
In a statement, Tyson thankfully turned down another fight, even though he declared after the fight: “I don’t think so. Maybe his brother.
“It’s one of those situations where you lost but you still won. I’m grateful for last night. But I don’t regret entering the ring for the last time,” Tyson said.
“I almost died in June and had eight blood transfusions. I lost half my blood and 25 pounds in the hospital and had to fight to get better to fight, so I won.
“For my children to see me stand shoulder to shoulder and finish eight innings with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboys Stadium is an experience no man could ever ask for. Thank you.”
Despite Tyson admitting his career is over, many blame Paul for adding an unnecessary stain to the boxing legend’s notebook.
Former world champion Carl Froch fell in love with Paul after witnessing the shocking events at AT&T Stadium from his home in Nottingham.
“It looked like Mike Tyson just showed up to play his part in this little circus,” The Cobra noted. “Jake Paul was either too scared to get involved or he didn’t want to hurt him.
– I don’t think he can. I don’t believe Jake Paul is good enough. The fight itself was awesome. Mike Tyson is 58 years aged. But Jake Paul also gave an amazing performance.
“I don’t like how he tries to say he didn’t really try, because I think he tried sometimes. And I don’t think he had the courage to stand in front of Tyson and try to do anything to get him out of there.
We hope that one day Paul will take his boxing career seriously and stop cutting corners. This is unlikely because Paul does not have enough talent to compete with anyone in the top 15 in any weight class.
Mike Tyson may not win at all even if he knocks out Jake Paul on Friday.
Tyson is approaching a comeback fight that many believe will not end with anyone winning.
Tyson was told that winning at the age of 58 in boxing was an empty joke. Tyson can’t really win either way if he crushes Paul or gets knocked out himself.
The former UFC star turned analyst weighed in on the Tyson debate as Daniel Cormier offered his views on the controversial fight.
Tyson will wear his professional gloves on November 15, nineteen years and more since his last appearance. Despite “Iron” Mike losing his previous two contests by knockout, YouTuber Paul sees Tyson as a cash opportunity to gain some recognition.
However, Cormier joins many voices who believe that both men have no chance of winning this fight. The only advantage of the entire Netflix event is money, which is no reason to create such an antagonist, since both men are already millionaires.
On his “Funky and the Champ” show, Cormier discussed Tyson’s smokescreen training videos, saying, “I understand that [he looks good at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels great].
“I agree when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro. It looks like there’s still something left there. But then I see Jake Paul fighting Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t operate the backup tank to stay and compete with this juvenile kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
“What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over,” Cormier added. “Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like this has ever happened in the history of sports.”
Paul has eight two-minute rounds to get the job done, while the consensus is that Tyson only has 30 seconds before he’s blowing tough and having difficulty keeping up.
The only comparison fight fans have made to the Paul vs. Tyson fight is when Evander Holyfield returned to action at the same age as Tyson in 2021. Facing Vitor Belfort, who was twenty years older than Paul at the time, Holyfield lasted only 109 seconds.
Mike is in deep crisis and must get out of the fight or destroy his opponent to gain any recognition. Senior Tyson would have beaten that opponent in a matter of seconds. Therefore, he must prove that money is not the only thing that counts.
In a recent workout, Tyson’s muscle mass remains off the charts for a man his age. The only problems will be its resistance to attacks and movement. If Mike can’t move around the ring, he’ll be chosen at his discretion by a guy three decades younger, with a much more significant engine.
Paul clearly doesn’t have skills comparable to Tyson. However, Mike has shown on numerous occasions, even in his thirties, that he is prone to impoverished performances and falling out of the game.
An audience of millions will watch to decide his ultimate legacy.
Salita Promotions returns to Flint, Michigan on Thursday, December 12 with another edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA, the leading talent development series in the sport, featuring a fight card packed with some of boxing’s top prospects, including Michigan Jr.’s Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes. , Joey Spencer, Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith and Leon Lawson III.
This will be the sixth BIG TIME BOXING USA card since the series premiered in February, and it is without a doubt the series’ strongest lineup yet, from top to bottom. All the action takes place at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, and the top four fights are broadcast live on DAZN, the undisputed home of boxing worldwide. Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday at 11 a.m. EST and can be purchased online HERE or in person at the Dort Financial Center box office.
After successfully defending his USBA junior middleweight title in September, Flint native Holmes (16-0, 6 KO) returns to his hometown to once again put his title on the line in the main event against an experienced challenger, French veteran Ahmed El Mousaoui ( 35-6-1, 9 KOs).
Fan favorite Spencer (18-1, 11 KO), from nearby Fenton, Michigan, will fight in a 10-round 160-pound fight. Spencer has bounced back with two wins since his lone loss to undefeated, highly-rated Jesus Ramos in March 2023.
Spencer will fight as a professional for the second time in his home state of Michigan. “Fighting in front of fans and friends from all over the state was the best experience,” Spencer said. “I grew up fighting alongside Ardreal Holmes and Leon Lawson – training and traveling to tournaments together and even sparring with each other as we grew into the same weight class.
“Large Time Boxing is a very cold series and Dmitriy Salita does a lot for boxing in Michigan. I can’t wait for December 12th and I’ll be ready to put on a show.
“My team and I are proud to announce the strongest BIG TIME BOXING USA fight card to date,” Salita said. “Since the series launched in February, we have been building and evolving it to become the premier talent development platform for newborn fighters, and this fight card is the best yet. Thank you to DAZN for providing a global platform for these fighters to shine and earn a shot at a world title. We would also like to thank Flint fans for supporting their hometown heroes and the entire sport of boxing. We had a great performance at the Dort Financial Center in September and this fight card is even more packed with incredible talent.”
Smith, touted as Detroit’s best undefeated middleweight prospect since Tommy Hearns, scored an impressive victory over Gilberto Pereira dos Santos last month in Puerto Rico. Smith has a record of 10-0 and 8 knockouts, and his momentum will be even greater when he returns to the ring against William Townsel (8-1, 6 KO) from Virginia Beach. This matchup represents the first major test for Smith, who is considered the second coming of the legendary Hearns due to his combination of speed, power and physique. Townsel previously upset Nadim Salloum, who had a 12-1 record heading into the fight, during the March edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA.
Flint native Lawson (16-1, 9 KO), cousin of Anthony and Andre Dirrell, returns after an impressive performance in September when he dominated Argentine Luis Alberto Veron and scored his second straight TKO. Lawson’s super welterweight opponent will not be announced. Additionally, former world title contender Byron Rojas (28-4-3, 11 KO) will fight on the fight card.
Rising star Samantha Worthington (9-0, 7 KO) of Lexington, Kentucky, will compete for the third time in 2024, defending her undefeated record in women’s super lightweight fighting. Worthington is ranked No. 2 by the IBF, No. 4 by the WBO and No. 6 by the WBC and WBA at 140 pounds. Worthington is promoted by “GWOAT,” unified women’s world champion and Flint native Claressa Shields and T-Rex Promotions. Shields and Worthington were members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
Shields added that Worthington is a player that Flint fans won’t want to miss. “Samantha will showcase the relentless work ethic and tremendous skill that first caught my eye and has seen her rise through the ranks,” Shields said. “Samantha is well on her way to challenging the top competitors in the sport, with future world title fights against the likes of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano well within her reach. Michigan fans, get ready to watch a rising women’s boxing star in your own backyard.
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