David Nyika is reportedly in the mix to fight Australian cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia next month.
Opetaia, the undefeated boxer considered by many to be the best cruiserweight in the world, is on the hunt for a new opponent for his January 8 IBF world title defence on the Gold Coast after his previous opponent Huseyin Cinkara broke an ankle.
According to AAP, Nyika has been mentioned as a possible opponent to fill in at extremely short notice, along with Russia's Umar Salamov, Brandon Glanton (US), Robin Safar (Sweden) and Albania's Juergen Uldedaj.
1News has contacted Nyika and his manager David Higgins for comment.
Nyika, undefeated over 10 professional bouts, last fought in September - a three-round shut-out of American journeyman Tommy Karpency.
A fight for Nyika against Opetaia would be highly desirable for the Kiwi but the timing may not be quite right for either man given the potential for it to be a much bigger affair in the future.
Nyika, 29 and based in Queensland, is ranked 10th in the world by the IBF.
Opetaia's manager Michael Francis said: "I'm in the process of working with the IBF and going through the top 15 to find Jai an opponent.
"We are three and a half weeks out and we need a new opponent because last night I got a missed call from Cinkara's manager.
"He sent me a message to call him urgently because he said 'there's been a disaster'. Straight away my heart sunk.
"I rang him back and he said Cinkara had broken his ankle and will be out for three months before he can train again. He even sent me the doctor's certificate."
Francis was on the phone until 3am yesterday to the managers of the top 15 cruiserweights in the world.
"IBF rules state that you have to work from the top down," Francis said.
"There are boxers we can't get visas for in time, so we are frantically working to get an opponent. I am confident we will have one. The event will still go ahead because there are five guys in the top 15 who have put their hand up and want the opportunity."
Francis now must work with the IBF to determine who that will be.
Opetaia will also defend his Ring Magazine world title when he fights his yet-to-be-determined opponent.
The 29-year-old is undefeated in 26 fights, 20 of them won by knockouts.
Francis said Opetaia was in camp on the Gold Coast ahead of his world title defence and started sparring yesterday.
"I told Jai about his opponent's unfortunate injury and he took it in his stride. He will prepare the same way regardless," he said.
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