David 'Nice Guy' Nyika's time to create own character

The quiet man from Hamilton to headline New Zealand's boxing team at Tokyo Olympics

It has long been David Nyika's unfortunate reality that he has remained in the colossal shadow of Joseph Parker. Parker not only cracked open New Zealand's professional boxing market, but he also captured the WBO belt, becoming our first heavyweight champion in the process. When the pair faced off as amateurs, it was Parker who emerged victorious, landing a spiteful left hook that handed Nyika his sole career defeat to date.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” Nyika says of the loss to Parker. “It humbled me. That loss taught me so much. It taught me that I needed to be more resilient, mentally tough, and put in the hard work.”

Parker has always garnered the headlines, it's simply the nature of being a heavyweight. But while 'The Juggernaut' was busy brawling his way to the top of the professional ranks, Nyika, the quieter, more reserved fighter, was quietly building a reputation. He became the first New Zealander in 20 years to medal at the world championships, snaring bronze in 2017.

'Nice Guy' David Nyika ready to make his own headlines

Now, after a long and arduous wait, it is finally Nyika's time to step out of the shadows and create his own narrative. As the headline act on the New Zealand boxing team for the Tokyo Olympics, Nyika is finally ready to grab the spotlight and carve out his own boxing legacy.

The 26-year-old has been working towards this moment his entire life and is chomping at the bit to finally get his chance to compete on the sport's grandest stage. Growing up in Hamilton, Nyika was always a talented athlete, but it was only when he discovered boxing that his true potential was realized.

Nyika quickly developed a reputation as a prodigious talent, winning multiple national titles at youth level. He made his international debut at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore, where he won a bronze medal. Two years later, he won gold at the 2012 Youth World Championships in Armenia.

Since then, Nyika has continued to climb the ranks, winning bronze at the 2017 World Championships in Hamburg and silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Nyika is now ranked number one in the world in his weight division and is one of the favorites for gold at the Tokyo Olympics. He is confident that he can bring back the gold medal from Tokyo, and he is excited about the opportunity to finally make his own mark on the sport.

"I'm really excited about the Olympics," Nyika said. "It's been a goal of mine for a long time, and I'm finally ready to compete on the biggest stage."

"I know I'm capable of winning the gold medal, and I'm going to give it everything I have."

Nyika is a role model for many young New Zealanders, and his success is an inspiration to all. He is proof that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

"I want to show young people that anything is possible," Nyika said. "If you have a dream, don't let anything stop you from chasing it."