Nyika Pays Tribute to Fiancée After Emotional Victory
New Zealand cruiserweight David Nyika paid tribute to his fiancée Lexy Thornberry tonight following a commanding, unanimous victory over Wuzhati Nuerlang of China in rural Queensland.
Nyika, who boxed at the Gatton Shire Hall—near the Thornberry residence where he trains—fought with visible emotion, nearly moved to tears as he thanked the crowd and TV audience for their support for him and Lexy. Lexy had learned she has head and neck cancer just six weeks earlier and was not present at the fight.
“The last six weeks have been hell… this is what makes Gatton, Gatton,” Nyika said after a performance broadcast live on TV2. “I recognise everyone in this crowd tonight, and your support has been incredible.”
He added: “Lexy… you have been my source of strength and courage. We’ll get through this – I tell you every day that you are the light of my life.”
Nyika dominated the bout from start to finish against a determined Nuerlang, with the judges awarding every round to the 30-year-old Olympic bronze medallist after ten rounds.
This victory marks another step in Nyika’s comeback following the devastating knockout loss to Australian-Samoan Jai Opetaia in January. The hometown setting—almost in his backyard—and a promotion organized by trainer and mentor Noel Thornberry, Lexy’s father, added a personal undertone to the evening.
Yet the emotional atmosphere did not derail Nyika’s performance. He controlled the pace early, establishing the jab and landing three right uppercuts in the opening round. Nuerlang, though tough, was limited, sustaining cuts that left him bleeding above the left eye as the fight wore on.
Nyika boxed with precision, alternating between orthodox and southpaw stances, and saved heavier power for the later rounds, seemingly content to let the fight extend to the distance while showcasing his technical skills. He finished the tenth round with a flourish as the crowd roared in approval.
“Full credit to him for bringing a good fight,” Nyika said of Nuerlang. “He could have shown up and folded, but he gave a strong effort, and I appreciate that.”
Before the bout, Nyika’s ranking stood at seventh by the IBF and eighth by the WBO. The win lifts his professional record to 12-1.
Tonight, Nyika demonstrated a full toolbox—sharp footwork, varied shot selection, and the versatility to switch stances at will. He has already rallied from a high-profile setback and now looks toward bigger arenas and tougher opponents, buoyed by a personal moment that colored the evening with resolve.
While the path ahead holds more challenging fights, Nyika can be confident in the form he showed tonight and in the unwavering support that has carried him through a difficult period.
