Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from US talks edb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Jump now into the ring the squared circle with a pugilist.
His name is David Nica and he joins us and
now David hanging there for a bit because we were
talking to you shortly about you being back on home
soil looking to continue your march towards the title taker. Listen,
(00:34):
you know you know you pay for the peddle there.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, everything's affected him and there it is. There was
the decisive left to the body and sites goes down
and they've waved it off. Mercy, mercy, me good car by.
The referee was only gonna get really ugly from there,
but slu to the nice guy David Nica, who's now
nine to zero and gets knockout number eight.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
He clubbed them into submission. Great to see. Hey, David,
welcome to the show lot water. We're a weekend only
from your first fight on home soil. Since you're what
you pray your pro debut, wasn't it. Yeah, mate, it's
been a long time between punches.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Yeah, man, it's been a long time coming, and I'm
really excited to fight in front of my home crowd. Again.
It's been yeah, just over three and a half years.
So the first one was a bit of a flop.
I think the the entire fight lasted twenty three seconds,
including the including the count. So yeah, excited to excited
to have a have another crack at it.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
It wasn't already a flop. I mean, you punched me,
fell over or you're saying he flopped? What was it like,
Jesse Jesse My, I think it was.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
I think that's what I think. That's what you call it.
He really did flop, didn't he. Maybe that's why they
called it a flop.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Maybe. But you went on there, great guns, and you've
gone along. I think that you're you've obviously unbeaten so
far in your pro career through nine fights, and a
lot of these scraps have not gone the distance. I
think only one of them early on in your career.
You actually had to go the whole lot. You got points.
Decision is that problematic for you? Like how long you
(02:09):
can last? And do you trust your whiskers for a
long time in the room?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I trained for ten rounds. You know,
this is this fire schedules for ten and I've trained
to ten. It's just a matter of whether or not
my opponents can can stand up to it. And I
know I've got the gas tank to break guys down,
and so I'd like to start showing that aspect of
my of my game a little bit more, you know,
(02:35):
And I need quality opposition to actually bring that, to
bring that to light.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Let's talk about the opposition. You had an opponent, but
he got well, he tried to reduce himself up. Idiot,
but you go, he's gomburger. So you got a new
bloke at late. Notice his name is Tommy Caapenci. You've
got to be impressed by David Higgins and your management
crew that they've managed to sort a replacement in the place.
Was it twenty four to forty eight hours after old
(03:01):
mate managed to produce himself out out of contention?
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Oh man, Yeah, it was a bit disappointing. Like they
had five or six weeks to get their B sample tested,
but they obviously weren't happy with the chances of them
clearing their name with the B sample, so they waited
four or five weeks to get an independent test done,
which would have given them plenty of times to clear
(03:26):
Blake system. So yeah, we've got another opponent. And the
good thing about having to, you know, I guess rummage
around for different opponents is that we've actually uncovered quite
a few new names that might be good opposition down
the line. So yeah, Tommy Carpentcy is the next in line.
(03:49):
But yeah, we've got an exciting new arrangement with the Zone,
so that's the exclusive platform to watch the flight. And yeah,
that there.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
I think.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Actually this is the first desone fight in New Zealand,
so we're trying to push for people to download that app.
It is like fully digital, It's so easy now. But
you know, we've got we've got a multi fight deal
with them. So ideally I roll through Tommy CARPENTI. I
know he's tough, but we roll through him and go
again before the end of the year.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
And I'm not getting paid or sponsored by Doze. But
I've been on that and I've used that at and
you're right dead simple, I'm all over it like a rast.
So get amongst if you want to watch Niki, of course,
you get along on the still tickets available for the fight,
and you pretty much sold out what he vite up
the Vin scenes next Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Yeah, I think we're pretty much sold out so out
of I think there were ninety tables, there's there's eighty
eight sold so yeah, it's gonna it's gonna be an
awesome crowd. But obviously for everybody to tune in online
is the way to do it. And ideally, ideally we
get a big stadium next. I reckon if we do
this again, we get you know, maybe fill out Spark Arena,
(04:59):
because I think I think all going well and if
we if we put on a good show with which
we undoubtedly will do with four heavyweight belts on the
trot on the night, yeah, I think we'll be able
to put together a big show before the end of
the year.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
But you're not getting too fair hit to yourself, mate.
I mean, you know they had a world heavyweight fight
at Spark Arena with Joe Parker. You know at that stage,
you know your mate settled down.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Let's see. Well, I'll tell you what. Duco have been
putting this this fight together for the last eighteen months
and they do nothing by half measures. So I think
this is going to be an amazing show. I know
how much hard work has gone into it and so yeah,
getting this last minute opponent was was crucial, you know,
(05:45):
And luckily enough, we've actually found someone that has has pedigree,
and you know, it's been this fight's been sanctioned by
the ib F and the WBO, which means that the
winner will go into the top fifteen rankings in those
two sanctioning bodies, which is which is actually a really
big deal. And obviously this guy's tough enough. He's He's
(06:09):
fought fought against three formal world champions and actually been
in one of them. So where Blake Caparello failed at
the top level, this guy's had success. So yeah, I'm
not taking him lightly. I'm not looking too far ahead.
I just understand that my narrative is only just beginning,
you know, and I've put so much hard work into
(06:31):
into getting myself to this to this place in this position.
I just have full confidence in my team around me,
and you know, I haven't cut any corners along the way,
and I'm exactly where I need to be, back in
the great country of Alta at all.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
David Nika joining them, of course, he's based over in Australia,
but coming home to fight. Tell us about your opposition
as far as what he brings to the ring, because
the guy who dropped out Caparello was a left hooker.
He was the other side because you've got the you know,
original natural saying. So as far as South Pauls go,
(07:09):
this new fighter is also South Paul, so that's got
to help with your preparation. Is he is he similar
on the way he.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Boxes, though, to be honest, I think he's probably a
more has a more fan friendly style. I was a
little bit concerned that we were going to fight Blake
Caparello and he was he was going to do the
bare minimum and just make the fight ugly and messy
and and just negative. So I know Tommy Cupence will
(07:36):
come out hard. I don't know if he's trained for
a ten for a ten round fight. I don't know
how long its camps, if he's been in camp or what,
but I know that he can bang. He's got nineteen
KOs out of the thirty one wins, and you know
he's been around for a long time and fought the
best of the best. So yeah, this is just another
another opportunity to prove my metal and obviously go there
(07:59):
and impressed because you know, obviously getting back getting back
over to Saudi to fight over there. That's a huge
goal of mine. And with with the likes of Manuka
Doctor driving this this show and these these productions, you know,
I feel like I've got all the confidence in the
world from from my country and uh, we've we've We've
really got a great thing going. I just need to
(08:21):
just need to get off the line quick, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
David Nika joining the show. Yeah, getting good at this game,
and he's sliding your sponsors in left right and send
to mate. Youre going to go far. What's on the line?
Are there any belts on the line or is it
all about getting yourself up the peaking order with the
yelphabet soup.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Yeah, I actually just learned just in the last twenty
four hours with this butt has been sanctioned, so it'll
be for two belts. Two belts. So I've got my
first belt with the IBF and now now we're going
to get a second with the WBO, So that'll be
Intercontinental Champion, I believe, and that's the that's the next
one down from from the world titles. So collecting these
(09:03):
belts is really important to keep getting me up the
up the rankings and eventually put myself on that mandated
spot to to force the champions to fight me.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
How long do you think before you get a crack
at a bona fide title? What are you looking at
six minds as two years? You've got a master plan there, David.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
The plans in boxing are always changing, so I'd say realistically,
in the next two years, I'll be I'll be fighting
for those titles, and whether they come sooner or later,
it doesn't matter. It's a matter of time, you know.
And if I just stick to the process and you know,
keep believing in myself, I believe I can go all
(09:44):
the way and beyond. So you know that the heavyweight
division isn't far off. I'm walking around outside of camp
at about ninety eight kilos and still pretty lean, so
that's that's that's well above the cruiserweight limit and venturing
into that that heavyweight game is you know, there's a
that's where all the money is these days. So obviously
(10:06):
getting big fights in the head division would be would
be amazing. And you know, I've worked with a lot
of the top guys data fighting today, so I'm fancy myself.
I think I think I've got what it takes and
I think I've learned so much over the last two
years training under the tutelage of Noel Thornberry. So I've
got all the confidence that i can go above and
beyond my own expectations. But it's all about just taking
(10:30):
you know, one fight at a time, one step at
a time. And yeah, I really feel like I'm inevitable.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
And I know your lean and nice that that body
of mine that I lent you a decade ago, you're
looking after it. Can I have it back after you
get to the top of the world.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
I'll let you know. You keep eating your your tuna
and rice.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Hey, one last thing, David, I've been questioned on this
a number of times, and I keep forgetting to ask you.
Where does your surname Nika come from? In y i Ka?
Is there a story behind that? What's the nationality? Where
does it come from?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Yah? Yeah, so that's it's actually Swahili name. It was
my granddad's nickname before he moved over to New Zealand,
so he I don't believe he had a birth certificate,
and so it was actually the name of his his
the chief of his village. So the chief of his
village would walk around his walk around their camp with
(11:24):
a stool over his shoulder. Whenever he stopped walking, he
would put the stool down and sit on it. My
granddad was about two or three years old when he
would follow follow the chief around the village with his
own little stool over his shoulder. Whenever the chief stops,
my granddad stopped and sat down on his little stool.
And so that's where he got his likeness to the
chief and ended up bringing bringing that name to New Zealand.
(11:47):
And so we're really kind of a kind of the
first of our name, you know. So it's I really
feel like we're perfect hybrids and where uh, we're quite
ambiguous if you look, if you look at me and
my siblings, we could kind of blend in just about anywhere.
But there's there's a there's a deeper, a deeper story
(12:09):
that I'm actually quite excited to uncover because you know,
I feel having having your own identity and understanding your
identity whilst you know, navigating the murky waters of you know,
racism and prejudice and whatnot. Where we're kind of we've
kind of got our own thing going on, and I
(12:31):
think learning about that that ancestry, and you know where
we come from is so important for everybody. Ours is
just a little bit a little bit different to to
you know, how we might be grouped in lump and
with different different ethnicities. You know, I could be Brazilian, dude,
I could be I could be Egyptian, I could be Maji.
(12:53):
I could be an Aboriginal. I get a lot of
that over and over in Queensland. So yeah, very ambiguous,
but one hundred percent Kiwi at the end of the day.
So you know, having I tell you what, the most
valid dating thing that's ever happened in my life was
being able to walk through the opening ceremony for the
(13:13):
Tokyo Olympic Games with the flag in my hand. You know,
me and Sarah hiding there at the time, took that
took that flag and she's a proud Mary woman. You know,
that was the most validating moment of my of my
life today today, I believe so yeah, having having the
(13:34):
support of New Zealand behind me and you know, understanding
that that this is this is where I belong and
this is where I've grown up and the people that
I've grown up around. I feel like I feel like
I've got all the support I need to to take this,
take this journey to the to the next level, you know,
to infinity and beyond.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
That's it. Buzz you get amongst and you stick that
name Nieka up on lights. Looking forward to next that
Saturday night. I'm still trying to strong arm your boss
Higgins to get me a seat. Will see he might
even wear a suit that fucking get that. David as
always great to you, and thanks so much for your time.
Pret well and go hard. We're looking forward to it.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Cheers, Darcy, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I appreciate you as well. Always good to catch up
with David Nika interesting history behind his name. You go
figure the things you'll learn.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
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