“But Lex is a monster. She’s doing so well. She’s become an inspiration for me. To keep fighting and to keep pushing forward has been easy watching her go through what she’s going through and I’m very, very appreciative of the opportunity to be able to ride alongside somebody that’s going through something like this.”
The pair made Thornberry’s diagnosis public late last week, about three weeks after the former Love Island Australia contestant received it. A crowdfunding page has been set up to help lighten the load on the young couple.
Posting on Instagram, Thornberry said she was set to begin treatment and that she made Nyika promise to continue with his career and not let the diagnosis take over their lives.
“I don’t believe in coincidence, and I think that everything’s happened for the right reason, but now we’ve got to dig our heels in,” Nyika said.
“The fight in January, like, that was a warm-up, man. We’re really, really going through the thick of it now and we still have kids to come, you know? We’re still getting married next year, you know? Like nothing changes.”
Nyika (11-1) will return to the ring next week in Gatton against China’s Wuzhati Nuerlang (17-4) as he looks to work his way back into world title contention.
The Kiwi, who fights under the moniker of “The Nice Guy”, is currently ranked inside the top 10 in the cruiserweight division with both the IBF (7) and WBO (8) as he looks to continue to work his way back into title contention.
“I feel really well-equipped for this. So, it means everything for her to support me through this. I don’t necessarily want to fight. I’m a lover, not a fighter. I love life, but if I wasn’t fighting, I wouldn’t know as much about it, you know?
David Nyika celebrates a win with fiancée Lexy Thornberry (second from left) and loved ones. Photo / Getty Images
“So for her to be supporting me through with my own kind of selfish endeavours is only going to make us stronger and make us a unique and well-equipped force moving forward. I know we’ve got an amazing life to live together and it’s important that we do the right things and that we get Lex the care she needs, so I’ll do whatever it takes to get her there.”
Speaking about how Thornberry’s diagnosis has changed his approach to training camp, Nyika said he had different priorities now and was doing everything he could to be at his partner’s side for “every appointment, every procedure, [and] every scan”.
Nyika had already been in training towards the potential of a spot on the undercard of Joseph Parker’s bout against Fabio Wardley in late October. While that didn’t eventuate, it meant he came into this one already in fighting shape and just had to maintain that level.
“First things first, I need my partner to be healthy and I need to be able to protect and provide for her. We’ve got a great team of doctors around us as well, as you know, a supportive family network and friends. The response we’ve had from our people has been amazing,” he said.
“But yeah, everything has changed. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, Lexy’s on my mind, you know? Like, I need to be doing everything that I can to make her journey through this chapter as comfortable as I can, and that’s taken top priority.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.