David Nyika shakes off the distractions to zero in on Chinese opponent
Sunday, 7 December 2025
Kiwi boxer David Nyika is fighting more than just journeyman Chinese pugilist Wuzhati Nuerlang in his adopted home town of Gatton, Queensland, next Saturday.
in fact, you could say the beefed up former middleweight is the least of the New Zealand cruiserweight contender’s problems. The truth is the Olympic bronze medallist from the Waikato, and 11-1 professional, should have too much class, and reach, for an opponent who presents chiefly as a stepping-stone to greater ambitions.
But other elements come into play this week for Nyika as he puts the finishing touches on preparations for his second fight since his dramatic January KO in the three-weeks-notice IBF world title fight against Jai Opetaia on the Gold Coast.
Like, the fact his fiancée Lexy Thornberry is in the middle of her own fight, for her life, after being diagnosed with head and neck cancer at the age of 24. Like the fact his trainer, and mentor, Noel Thornberry is Lexy’s father, and both boxer and coach have a little bit to be distracted by right now.
Throw in other elements, like the unknown quantity of his opponent – Nyika has little video footage of Nuerlang to study – and that he’s headlining a bill promoted by his trainer in his newly adopted home town of Gatton, in the south-east of the Sunshine State, and you can understand how this might be a potential banana skin fight for Nyika.
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But fretting is most definitely not the style of this 30-year-old athlete who calls himself “the Nice Guy”, and very much lives up to that moniker.
Nor is fitness for a fellow who only has to look at a barbell to develop a six-pack.
“I was eight weeks’ fit about six weeks ago,” he nods. “I’ve got plenty of rounds in the bank, and I’ve been more trying to maintain my level of fitness over the last 3-4 weeks. There’s not much more I could have done to prepare. Mentally, it’s been a huge challenge, but this is what life is about, man. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing it.”
Truth is Nyika doesn’t know how fully he will be able to focus in fight week ahead of next Saturday’s card which will be broadcast on TVNZ in New Zealand.
His fiancée is just a week or so into chemotherapy, and he’s determined to be by her side as much as she needs him to be.
“Lex is doing great, and long may that continue. If this year has taught me anything, it’s prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And resilience. I will dial in no matter what. I’m fit and healthy, and doing everything I can to put myself in the best position. I’ll make it work.”
In fact, he doesn’t mind admitting, it’s about more than boxing now for him.
“I’ve never liked fighting because I get to hurt people. It’s an outlet – a way fr me to express myself in a way not many other people can. I feel lucky to be able to do what I do. I have sport. I have Lex, her family and my family, and the whole of New Zealand. I love that I’m able to showcase my hard work to my country, and my people.”
So, what does he know about his opponent? Certainly not how to prounounce his name, he chuckles.
“He started campaigning at super middleweight. I’ve heard he’s gone as high as 250lb. He’s not a tall guy, (1.76m, or 5’9) and his weight has fluctuated to a fully fledged heavyweight.
“I’m expecting him to be durable. There’s not a hell of a lot of footage on him, but I’ve seen a few of his fights at super middleweight. I think he’s one-dimensional. I believe he’ll be as tough as they come, with the extra weight, and his resistance should be a lot higher.”
Nuerlang’s record is, well, OK. He has 17 wins, 4 defeats and 2 draws. Thirteen of those victories have come by knockout.
“He can punch down at the lighter weights, and it will be interesting to see if he carries that up to cruiserweight,” adds Nyika. “I’ve seen footage of him on the pads, and he looks like a bit of a brick – like he could put a dent in you.
“It’s a matter of whether or not he can pin me down.”
Two others from the Thornberry stable – heavyweight Alex Leapai Jnr and Noel’s son Cassidy – will be on the card, but it will be Nyika they’re coming to see in his third fight in Gatton.
The long and short of it is it’s a bout the Kiwi, who has 22cm of height and reach on the Chinese fighter, must win to work back to where he wants to get to in the division.
“Every fight opens another door … I need to win this,” he says. “To do it in my new home town and to send it back to New Zealand, it’s golden. I’d love to make this a regular thing. This is all possible because Noel knows how to make things work. I’d be doing him and Lexy a disservice by not giving everything to this opportunity.”