Heavyweight boxer David Nyika assured himself of an Olympic medal with a convincing victory over Uladzislau Smiallikau of Belarus in their heavyweight quarter-final today.
Under boxing rules, the losing semi-finalists do not box again and are both awarded a bronze medal.
Nyika, 25, was extremely slick against the Belarusian, hitting him repeatedly with his left jab and opening up a cut over his left eye in the first round. As the fight wore on the New Zealander also employed some telling upper cuts.
His ability to switch repeatedly from orthodox stance to southpaw added to Smiallikau’s woes and not surprisingly the Hamilton man was awarded a unanimous decision, though to the surprise of most, one judge awarded the third round to the Belarusian.
In his first bout Nyika outclassed Moroccan Youness Baalla, also winning unanimously on points.
He looks a classy boxer, composed and very evasive, with quick feet and good head movement.
In his next bout, on Tuesday, Nyika, the tournament fourth seed, meets the pre-event favourite for the gold medal, Muslim Gadzhimagomedov. The tough Russian, who has won both his fights in Tokyo on unanimous points decisions, won the heavyweight world championship in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2019.