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Former Commonwealth gold medalist David Nykia is set to face Karim Maatalla in a cruiserweight matchup. The fight will take place on the undercard of the much-anticipated title unification bout between George Kambosos Jr and Devin Haney.

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The fight will take place on June 4 in front of a packed crowd at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

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David Nyika vs. Karim Maatalla: Physical attributes

David Nyika is a 26-year-old boxer from New Zealand. He stands at 6-feet-6inches tall and has a professional record of 2-0 with both victories coming via KO. Moreover, he made his professional debut in February 2021 with a KO victory over Jesse Maio.

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On the other hand, Karim Maatalla is a relatively unknown prospect coming out of Australia. He has been in 3 professional fights and has a record of 2-1. He made his professional debut in March 2021, losing to Vita Pomale via KO.

Other facts about David Nyika and Karim Maatalla

Although their records might seem similar, David Nyika is the far more accomplished boxer out of the two. Nyika won gold in the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and has also competed in the 2017 and 2019 World Boxing championships. Moreover, he was the flag bearer for his country in the 2020 Summer Olympics, where he would win the bronze medal in the Men’s heavyweight Division. He also has an amateur record of 71-14 in 85 bouts before turning pro in 2021.

Read More: Who is Devin Haney’s Trainer Ben Davison?

Nyika has a reported net worth of $1.5 million and details about his personal life are unknown in the public domain.

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There is very little information about Karim Maatalla as he has just entered boxing as is new to the sport. He has just been in one amateur fight against Daniel Sterling, which he won. Moreover, there is no information about his net worth and personal life.

Details of the fight

David Nyika is coming into this fight with a dominant win over Anthony Caprin in December, who retired from the fight after the first round. Furthermore, the cruiserweight is training with boxers like Andy Lee, Tyson Fury, and fellow Kiwi, Joseph Parker, which will certainly increase his skill set. But Maatalla could give him a run for his money as the Melbourne-based boxer does boast a 2-1 record with his most recent fights ending through KO.

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Nykia is the heavy favorite, but he’s hoping to finally be tested as a professional. Who do you think will win this fight? Let us know in the comments.

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Sahil Sood

1,864 Articles

Sahil Sood is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in covering live events and core sports. Sahil holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has authored over 1300 articles at EssentiallySports. His coverage of Sylvester Stallone's training with Earnie Shavers was widely praised for its depth and insight. As a practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu and a passionate fan of combat sports, Sahil's love for the sport shines through in his writing. His favorite bout, Roberto Duran vs 'Sugar' Ray Leonard, is a testament to his appreciation for the all-time classics and his deep understanding of the technical aspects of boxing. Aside from his writing, Sahil's life revolves around his training for national tournaments, reflecting the same dedication and discipline that he brings to his work as a boxing writer.

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Vibhanshu Kumar

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