9 Mar 2020

NZ heavyweight Nyika off to Japan

11:44 am on 9 March 2020

New Zealand heavyweight boxer David Nyika has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after winning his quarter-final bout at the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Jordan.

New Zealand boxer David Nyika.

New Zealand boxer David Nyika. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Nyika beat his Syrian opponent Alaa Aldin Ghousoon on a unanimous points decision and will next face the third seeded Sanjar Tursunov for a place in the final.

The two times Commonwealth Games Gold medallist was determined to wear the fern at the Olympics after missing out on Rio.

"It's been 10 years man, 10 years in the sport for this dream. It means the world to me. I'd like to give this to my Grandad, who passed away this week. This one's for him," Nyika said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's Leuila Mau'u lost his Super Heavy bout with Australia's Justis Huni.