A staggering slip-up from Filipino favourite Joe Noynay has overshadowed the build-up to Nikita Tszyu's professional boxing debut in Brisbane.
Noynay weighed in at 62.92kg at Nissan Arena ahead of his WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight title fight on Thursday, almost 4kg over the 59kg weight class limit.
Opponent Liam Wilson (58.76kg) was spot on in his preparation as he prepared for a rematch with the man who stopped his promising career in its tracks with a first loss last year.
After deliberation between both camps Wilson agreed to the fight despite the 4kg differential, Noynay now unable to claim the belt if he wins on Thursday.
Queenslander Wilson seemed destined for the big time before his one-sided loss to Noynay last year.
"I'll fight him whatever weight he is," he said on Thursday.
"I've been training for eight months, had the rematch on my mind since losing the fight.
"I can't wait to show what I'm made of; he made pretty light work of me so I've had to change a few things."
Meanwhile Tszyu declined to make any bold predictions as he prepares to follow his father into the professional game almost 30 years to the day since Kostya's debut.
The younger brother of mandatory WBO super welterweight world title challenger Tim has shelved his career in architecture to join the family business.
He'll fight Townsville's Aaron Stahl, who is undefeated in three professional fights, in the main event that's been delayed a day and moved twice due to Brisbane's floods.
Brisbane-based Irish favourite Dennis Hogan will also meet Wade Ryan in an IBO super welterweight title eliminator.
"It's all or nothing. I'm just delighted it didn't get postponed ... and I'm here at my very best," Hogan said.
