Floyd Masson vs David Nyika Preview August 8th, 2026
There’s an IBF Cruiserweight elimination fight set for Auckland, New Zealand this Saturday, August 8th as David Nyika of Hamilton, New Zealand takes on fellow countryman Floyd Masson. The 12-rounder can be seen live in New Zealand and Australia, where both boxers reside, on Kayo/Main Event pay-per-view. Nyika last fought in December when he shut out Wuzhati Nuerlang over 10 rounds. Masson’s last fight resulted in a shut out victory as well when he won all six rounds against Johan Linde in September.
Masson vs Nyika Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Floyd Masson +284
- David Nyika -400
My Pick
The 34-year-old southpaw Masson climbs through the ropes with a mark of 17-2 with 9 Ko’s and has boxed 102 rounds since making his pro debut in 2018. As an amateur he fought at the New Zealand National Championships in 2012 and 2013 and at the 2011 North Island Golden Gloves tournament. He stands just over six-feet-tall but unfortunately has an unlisted reach. Masson’s power is just above average as 52.9 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s gone the distance in three of his last four bouts.
The first defeat on Masson’s record came at the hands of Yves Ngabu by way of a sixth-round TKO in 2023 to lose his IBO Cruiserweight Belt. The following year he dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Mateusz Masternak in an attempt at the vacant Polish International Cruiserweight Title. Masson captured the vacant Australian Cruiserweight Crown in 2021 with a fourth-round stoppage over Joseph Liga. He added the Australasian Cruiserweight Belt in his next outing via a 10-round majority decision over Mark Flanagan.
In 2023 Masson beat Fabio Turchi by a 12-round unanimous-decision to take the vacant IBO Cruiserweight Title, which he then lost to Ngabu in his first defence five months later. Masson did manage to win one more belt when he stopped John Parker in the seventh round in July, 2025 for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific Cruiserweight Title. Masson has fought as a pro just once outside of Australia and that was in Poland in the loss to Masternak. He hasn’t taken on any elite opponents as of yet but just two of his 19 opponents entered the ring with a losing record.
As for Nyika, he’s 30 years old and carries around a record of 12-1 with 10 Ko’s. He’s fought just 46 rounds since making his pro debut in 2021 due to his explosive power. He enjoyed an extensive amateur career and won gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. He also fought at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships and won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan where he was also a New Zealand flag bearer.
Nyika is one of the biggest cruiserweights around as he measures 6-feet-6-inches with a 78-inch reach which gives him a 5.5-inch edge in height on Masson. He also has more power in his punches as 83.3 percent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s gone the distance just twice as a pro. Karim Maatalla took him five rounds in 2022 in a unanimous decision for Nyika and Wuzhati Nuerlang went 10 rounds with him in Nyika’s last outing in December. The hard-hitting Nyika has recorded two first-round stoppages, three in the second round, two in the third and fourth rounds and one in the fifth.
His biggest wins came against Robert Berridge by third-round TKO in 2023 and Tommy Karpency by third-round TKO in 2024 to win the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Belt and retain his IBF Inter-Continental Crown. He captured the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Title in 2024 when he stopped the formerly unbeaten Michael Seitz in the fourth round. Nyika took a huge step up in class against Jai Opetaia in January, 2025 but was stopped in the fourth round in a shot at the IBF Cruiserweight Belt for his lone pro defeat so far.
Prediction…
Nyika is younger and has the edge in size and power. However, Masson is an aggressive boxer who could be a thorn in his side. Masson could also be tailor made for Nyika’s hard-hitting style though and I think that sooner or later Nyika will wear him down and possibly stop him.
Nyika’s size and power should be the difference.
Play: Nyika -400 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
David Nyika betting • Floyd Masson betting