Brutally stopped in their first world title battle, David Nyika has welcomed a rematch with Jai Opetaia as he eyes a dramatic rankings rise in the wide-open IBF cruiserweight standings.
New Zealand's Gatton-based Olympic bronze medallist will fight fellow Kiwi-born talent Floyd Masson in a world title eliminator in Auckland on August 8.
The pair are ranked fifth and sixth respectively in the IBF standings that have been shaken up after the organisation controversially stripped unbeaten Opetaia of their belt.
Nyika stepped in as an injury replacement on short notice to challenge Opetaia in January last year and, after a furious three rounds, was knocked out by the champion.
But Opetaia's move to Zuffa Boxing, and subsequent debut for Dana White's rebel organisation, prompted the IBF to strip him of their title.
Opetaia's camp has threatened legal action, but as it stands the Gold Coast-based boxer has slipped to fourth in the IBF rankings and is clinging to his Ring belt as he chases another big fight.
A win against Masson (17-2) would catapult Nyika (12-1) to No.1 in the IBF's rankings and all but ensure a chance to claim the organisation's vacated belt.
"In professional boxing sometimes the path chooses you," Nyika said.
"I was never going to turn down the chance to fight for the world title, even if the odds were stacked against me."
Nyika was left prone on the canvas and badly concussed by Opetaia, but has dominated in his three fights since.
"I certainly don't regret it," he said.
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"I believed in myself then and I believe in myself now.
"The opponent might be different, but the challenge is the same. I've got to win against a quality, world-ranked fighter.
"That's the way it's always going to be when you're chasing world titles."
Opetaia remains hopeful UFC supremo White, who has ruffled feathers since establishing Zuffa alongside Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, can deliver him undisputed status.
And trainer Noel Thornberry can see a future where Opetaia meets his man again with a world title on the line.
"David has the skills to go all the way, and down the track he might well get the chance to right that wrong against Jai," he said.
"He was never going to turn it down, but the reality was he took that (2025) fight at three weeks' notice.
"It was over Christmas and we couldn't even find a southpaw sparring partner for him. This time it's totally different."
Masson is based in Brisbane but was born in Te Awamutu and was a budding New Zealand amateur before moving to Australia and fighting under that flag.
