It’s the battle for Jai Opetaia’s old strap — and with huge opportunities for the winner.
Only five months after Opetaia was controversially stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title, a pair of Australian-based fighters, David Nyika and Floyd Masson, are now throwing down in an eliminator to determine who gets a crack at the gold belt themselves.
Nyika v Masson | Saturday August 8 from 5pm AEST | One of the biggest nights in New Zealand boxing in recent years is coming to Auckland. Headlined by an official IBF Cruiserweight World Title Eliminator at Auckland’s Eventfinda Stadium on Saturday 8 August 2026. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Set to take place in Auckland on Saturday night, the IBF eliminator shapes as a huge opportunity for the winner … and a future that could include Opetaia, US superstar David Benavidez, or both.
WHY IS THIS FIGHT HAPPENING?
Put simply, because Australia’s Jai Opetaia has been stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title.
After signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, Opetaia had the gold strap yanked from around his waist, with Saturday night’s winner set to face the top contender, Englishman Viddal Riley, for the vacant strap.
WHY IS DAVID NYIKA HERE?
Long considered one of the cruiserweight division’s Next Big Things, Nyika has taken only one loss in his 13 professional fights – and even that was against the division’s most feared slugger, Jai Opetaia.
Challenging Opetaia for the IBF cruiserweight title on just 18 days notice, the New Zealander looked strong early before being caught, and brutally stopped.
In the almost two years since, Nyika has won twice while also taking a prolonged break from the sport to help his partner Lexy overcome an incredibly tough cancer battle.
Nyika is ranked at No.5 with the IBF.
WHY IS FLOYD MASSON HERE?
Because he’s Australia’s best cruiserweight not named Jai Opetaia. Or certainly that’s the case as far as world rankings go, with the Queenslander also a former holder of the IBO cruiserweight title once owned by Danny Green.
Despite losing a big fight against Poland’s Mateusz Masternak in 2024, Masson has since responded with three straight wins to again put himself within one win of another world title opportunity.
Masson is ranked at No.6 with the IBF.
WEIRDEST STORYLINE TO THIS FIGHT?
These two fighters grew up only 20 minutes apart in New Zealand, with Masson having also also spent countless hours inside Nyika’s childhood home as good friends with the fighter’s sister. Masson also knows the entire Nyika family incredibly well.
“I used to be over at his house quite a lot,” Masson grins.
“I know his parents really well, and have known David since he was young. He’s a few younger than me, so I was fighting at 75kg then and he was at 60kg. Real skinny kid. And he always had this great energy about him. Had a lot of talent and worked hard.”
Says Nyika: “We first met when Floyd was 15. He was good friends with my older sister and would always be the designated driver for house parties. So we’d always sit around talking boxing in my family home.”
WHAT ARE THE BOOKIES SAYING?
According to Sportsbet, Nyika is the $1.22 favourite, with Masson having already been wound out to almost five bucks. When it comes to most likely method of victory, a Nyika KO is paying $1.69 and a decision victory $4. He is shortest odds to finish in either the seventh or eighth rounds.
HOW DOES THIS FIGHT CHANGE THE CRUISERWEIGHT LANDSCAPE?
Undeniably, there will be a host of huge options should either of these men eventually become IBF cruiserweight king against Viddal Riley.
But exactly who that will be against? It all depends on how things play out over the next couple of months, with Zuffa announcing earlier this week that Opetaia will fight WBC champ Noel Mikaelian in Las Vegas come September.
Bizarrely, there have also been reports this week suggesting Mikaelian had already agreed to fight US superstar David Benavidez, who is the division’s other big name alongside Opetaia after moving up this year and claiming WBA and WBO gold.
Should Opetaia win WBC gold, he could then throw down in a superfight with Benavidez. And for whoever holds the IBF strap, that could then mean a lucrative undisputed blockbuster against the winner.
WHAT CHANCE THE WINNER FIGHTS OPETAIA?
Absolutely, that’s also possible, and would certainly make an intriguing storyline should it be Nyika defending IBF gold.
“And while it will all come down to the politics of boxing,” the New Zealander shrugs, “I really do feel our paths with cross again”.
Masson, meanwhile, is also excited by the idea of an Opetaia showdown, adding: “I want to fight the best, and that’s Jai Opetaia. Right now, all my focus is on David Nyika but to eventually win the world title and then defend against Jai would be amazing.”
THE UNUSUAL AUSSIE LINK
Despite growing up just minutes apart in New Zealand, both men now reside in Queensland, with Masson, a father of twin daughters, fighting under the Australian flag after initially moving here 15 years ago as a teenage amateur.
Nyika, meanwhile, is having his first fight back since partner Lexy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, with the 30-year-old dropping everything to assist her through a lengthy treatment and recovery.
Saturday’s Auckland fight doubles as her first trip since beating the disease.
FIGHTER IN “KILL MODE”
Speaking at Friday’s press conference, Nyika stressed his intentions for the man he has known well for more than 15 years.
“I’m in kill mode right now,” he said. “This is what I’ve built myself to do over the last 16 years. I’m a trained killer …”
On Masson, he continued: “He may work harder than me in the gym. He may. But if hard work led to success the donkey would own the farm. I believe that I’m a tier above Floyd and I’m going to prove that.
“I don’t think Floyd has an issue around his gas tank but there’s a fair bit of scar tissue around his eyes and his nose looks like it’s had a bit of damage in the past so that’s something I’m conscious of as well.”
Asked about that last quote, Masson replied: “Oh man, I guess my face is just how it is. It’s ready … ready for war.”
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THE UNDERCARD
Even for casual fight fans, there are several eye-catching undercard bouts, including a heavyweight showdown between NRL great Manu Vatuvei and former All Black Rene Ranger.
Elsewhere, fellow All Black retiree Liam Messam will also throw down against Luke Siaki, while the undefeated Alex Leapi Jnr faces Arsene Fosso.
HOW TO WATCH
Nyika v Masson will be shown live on Main Event and Kayo Sports this Saturday, August 8 from 5pm.