New Zealand boxer David Nyika did not face much trouble on his way to a 5-0 victory against Youness Baalla in his Olympics heavyweight debut on Tuesday other than having to contend with an attempted bite from his Moroccan opponent.
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Nyika, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, had won the first two rounds with ease and constantly troubled Baalla with his pinpoint jabs during the contest at the Kokugikan Arena.
The 22-year-old Baalla lost his cool and attempted to bite his opponent's ear during a hold in round three but a shocked Nyika managed to pull out in time.
The fight continued and Nyika, who was one of New Zealand's flagbearers at the Games opening ceremony, registered a 5-0 win to book a quarter-final spot against Uladzislau Smiahlikau but he was surprised the referee had missed the incident.
"Did you see that? I don't think the ref saw it. She was the closest one," Nyika, 25, said, adding that his opponent probably tasted a lot of sweat.
"He didn't get a full mouthful. Luckily he had his mouthguard in and I was a bit sweaty. I don't remember what I said to him but I gave him a little bit of a cheek.
"I have been bitten once on the chest before at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. But c'mon man this is the Olympics."
Australian Associated Press