Tommy Karpency Replaces Blake Caparello, Will Face David Nyika On Sept. 14 in Auckland

05/09/2024 04:17

There was never a concern among David Nyika’s team to secure a new opponent in time to save the show.

Duco Events, Nyika’s primary promoter, have lined up Western Pennsylvania’s Tommy Karpency to face the unbeaten cruiserweight. Karpency replaces Blake Caparello, who was pulled after he tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.

Nyika-Karpency will headline a Sept. 14 DAZN show from Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.

"Securing such a high-quality opponent at short notice is incredibly difficult so we're delighted with this result," Duco Events’ David Higgins stated. “It says everything you need to know about Tommy Karpency. He is viewed by both the sanctioning bodies and our broadcast partner as – if anything– a step up from Caparello.

"With that, of course, comes a step up in the challenge for David Nyika. The stakes have just gone up significantly."

Nyika (9-0, 8 knockouts) has stopped each of his last six opponents. The 2020 Olympian for New Zealand most recently defeated unbeaten Michael Seitz on the May 18 Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

He still gets to headline his first DAZN show with the quick call to action by his promotional team.

“That's boxing," shrugged Nyika. "My job is to take out whoever my promoters put in front of me . That's what I'm going to do.

"Obviously I have a huge amount of respect for a guy like Tommy who has been in with the best and still continues to perform at an elite level –but it's my time now. Tommy Karpency is about to learn that the hard way."

Karpency (31-8-1, 19 KOs) is just 2-2 in his last four starts. He earned a club-level win over Joe Jones on Aug. 10 in Warren, Ohio.

David Nyika's next steps on his road to a cruiserweight world title will now be even tougher.

Nyika's promoters Duco Events and Joseph Parker Promotions have tabbed dangerous American gatekeeper Tommy Karpency to take the place of Blake Caparello for the main event of the Road to the Title presented by Manuka Doctor at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre.

Such is the stature of Karpency – who has challenged for the IBO, WBO and WBC light heavyweight world titles during a stellar 18-year career – that the bout has been swiftly sanctioned by the IBF and WBO and approved by global broadcast giant DAZN.

The IBF and WBO intercontinental cruiserweight belts will be on the line.

Karpency – who has faced the likes of Adonis Stevenson (WBC light heavyweight title fight), Andrzej Fonfara (IBO light heavyweight title fight) and Nathan Cleverly (WBO light heavyweight title fight) – is primed and ready to go having defeated Joe Jones just last month.

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