In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first person to cross the 2000km expanse of water between Australia and New Zealand that now bears his name – The Tasman Sea.
For a good chunk of the 383 years since that epic voyage, Kiwis and Aussies have traversed ‘The Ditch’ to work, play, marry and – most importantly - compete in sports.
With a population five times larger, a vastly superior economic power base, better facilities and deeper talent pool, Australia has largely held the upper hand in these trans-Tasman sporting clashes.
It’s a reality that has fostered a fierce – at times bitter – rivalry, with Kiwis typically playing the role of plucky underdogs determined to land a blow flush on the nose on an older sibling.
“The trans-Tasman thing is huge,” says no. 10-ranked David Nyika ahead of an IBF world cruiserweight showdown with Jai Opetaia on Australia’s Gold Coast on January 8, live on DAZN.
“It always feels like the big brother trying to beat up the little brother. It’s always going to be a spectacle.”
While New Zealand has held a vice-like grip on Australia’s throat for the last 23 years in its national sport of rugby union, Australia is unquestionably the dominant sporting nation.
- Read next | Jai Opetaia vs. David Nyika – A true underdog story?
When it comes to boxing, however, the tale of the tape is less clear cut.
Thanks to Auckland-born Joseph Parker’s WBO success, New Zealand can lay claim to a genuine born and bred heavyweight world champion.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images
Australia’s version of that is Lucas Browne’s brief grasp on the WBA regular title, before it was stripped for a failed drug test after his shock victory over Ruslan Chageav in 2016.
While Australia has produced its share of great champions in the lower weight classes, many of the nation’s finest fighters have been immigrants, such as the Russian-born legend Kostya Tszyu.
In New Zealand, Parker’s world title success was the first for a Kiwi-born fighter since Torpedo Billy Murphy claimed the world featherweight title in… 1890.
Suffice to say, then, that trans-Tasman bouts between genuine world class fighters born Down Under have been few and far between.
“I honestly think it is the biggest fight in trans-Tasman history,” says Nyika.
The most recent comparable bout is the 2012 IBO world cruiserweight title fight between Danny Green and Shane Cameron in Melbourne – a contest that was fought at a catchweight of 89kg after Green insisted the natural heavyweight Cameron come right down to his size.
The “Dannyweight” fight between a much-loved, huge-punching Kiwi heavyweight and the much smaller plucky Aussie captured the imagination, drawing over 7000 fans to the Hisense Arena, but didn’t deliver much in the way of fireworks in the ring thanks to Cameron’s emaciated state.
“I think even Danny and Shane would agree that this is the biggest trans-Tasman fight that has ever take place,” says Nykia’s Australian trainer Noel Thornberry.
“Danny, as good as he was, at the time he fought Shane probably didn’t have the status in the cruiserweight division that Jai enjoys.
“Jai is universally recognised as the top cruiserweight in the world. David is a New Zealand Olympic hero. He’s a two-time Commonwealth gold medallist and has an Olympic bronze, so he’s probably the most decorated New Zealand amateur ever.
“He’s throwing his hat in the ring against the universally recognised number one in the world.”
If Wednesday night’s (Aus and NZ time) contest lacks anything, says Nyika, it is an appropriate level of hype for an event of this stature – a fact attributable to the Kiwi serving as a late replacement for injured German mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara.
“I’ve obviously had Jai in my sights for a long time but it was never a fight that the fans were expecting to see now,” says Nyika. “They’re going to get it a lot earlier than anticipated.”
With the Kiwi having just 10 pro fights under his belt, the question must be asked if the fight has come around just a little too early for Nyika himself.
“I would never take a fight that I didn’t think I could win,” he says.
“Having the intel on Jai that I have, I believe that I have the goods to beat him, and to potentially even stop him.
“It’s a big fight and risky fight but it is probably higher risk for Jai to be quite honest. He’s got everything to lose and not a hell of a lot to gain.
“Jai has been around the world knocking out some of the big names in the cruiserweight division. His resumé is amazing – so that is going to look so much better for me when I get in there and beat him.”
Nyika spoke with DAZN Media shortly after arriving on the Gold Coast ahead of the fight. His 6ft 5inch frame and movie star looks make him instantly recognisable – and it’s fair to say he’s not been feeling much love from his Aussie big brothers.
“I am getting shady looks and side eyes,” he says with a chuckle. “I love it man. I’m not a bad guy but I’m going to prove to the world that I am the best cruiserweight out there.”
While he will be in enemy territory as he takes on the biggest challenge of his life, Nyika certainly will not be alone.
Like many Kiwis, Nyika has made a home in Australia, residing in the Queensland town of Gatton – a two hour drive from the Gold Coast – for the last three years.
In a happy twist of fate, the late notice call-up for the fight has delivered a ready-made band of travelling supporters.
Instead of climbing into the ring, Nyika was supposed to be on holiday in Bali with a group of mates before heading to Mexico with his partner.
“As soon as I told them I was going to be fighting for a world title they all changed their plans – and they are actually in the Gold Coast right now.
"They came straight from Bali to Australia and then they’ll be going home. So I’ve got a really, really good support network here.
“Having a Kiwi contingency here in Australia is massive. And I’ve got my friends and new-found family from Gatton coming down as well.
"It is going to be electric man. This really is best-case scenario.”
And that romantic holiday in Mexico?
“I talk about destiny and all that s—t but just so happens our flights are the evening after the fight!”
Nyika is in no doubt he will be boarding that plane as the new IBF world cruiserweight champion.
“Every great champion needs a great adversary. And I believe that Jai is the great adversary in my story. To become a great champion I have to overcome him.”
Watch Opetaia vs Nyika on Wednesday live on DAZN
Jai Opetaia and David Nyika's fight card and the DAZN live broadcast will begin at 8am GMT; 3am ET; 6pm AEST; 8pm NZDT on Wednesday, January 8.
Opetaia and Nyika will then step into the ring at 12pm GMT; 7am ET; 10pm AEST; 1am NZDT.
In Australia and New Zealand watch the fight on DAZN PPV as a one-off cost. For the UK, US and rest of the world, this fight is part of the regular DAZN subscription.
For prices of monthly or annual subscription and to sign up, click here.
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