“It’s been extremely difficult mentally, physically, emotionally. I’ve put my heart and soul into being the right person for Lex during this time but I’m really excited to get back to doing what I love and showcasing what I do,” Nyika told the Herald.
“It’s the start of a new chapter for me and Lex. We’re looking forward to getting married and starting a family together and this is just the first big leap. It feels great.”
With a weight lifted, Nyika initially planned to ease his way back to boxing with a low-key return on May 30 in Gatton.
A call from the International Boxing Federation, ordering a cruiserweight world title eliminator against fellow Australian-based Kiwi Floyd Masson, drastically altered that vision.
Ideally, Nyika would shake off ring rust with tune-up fights but with an extended runway to prepare for his world title eliminator, which will propel the winner to challenge Britain’s Viddal Riley for the IBF title later this year, he remains confident of charting his path to championship status.
“Immediately it was a little bit daunting because I hadn’t punched anything since I busted my hand on that Chinese man’s head so it was five months stale but when they said July-August it was a sigh of relief,” Nyika said.
“If I have three-and-a-half months. That’s the perfect time to wind up. I’m starting slow but my slow is pretty vigorous. I’ll pace myself over the next few months.”
Squaring off against Te Awamutu-raised southpaw Masson will be something of a full-circle moment for Nyika. The pugilists know each other well, with Masson attending teenage house parties at the Nyika home as a friend of his sister, Ruby.
“Even then we’d be talking shop about the weight he was trying to make to avoid fighting his teammates. He’s always been a consummate professional. I have nothing but admiration for him. That’s what’s going to drive me through this camp – wondering what Floyd’s doing. He’s a diesel engine.
“He’s one of the good guys of the sport. Everything he’s achieved in boxing he’s done through hard work and discipline because he’s not a talented fighter.
“Floyd doesn’t do anything that scares me. He attacks the body well but I’m taller, I’ve got great footwork; I can punch at range and fight on the inside. I don’t expect to get everything my way. He’s battle hardened but I believe he’ll bring the best out of me. I’m expecting a hard, gruelling fight.
“It’s a great fight for a world title eliminator. It’s a big step in the right direction for us both. If either of us were to turn our nose up to it, that would be the dishonour.”
The chance to contest a cruiserweight world title emerged from the IBF stripping Samoan Australian Jai Opetaia, widely considered the king of the division, after he signed with Dana White’s breakaway Zuffa boxing last month.
Nyika suffered his sole knockout defeat to Opetaia in January 2025, after accepting the world title fight on short notice.
Eighteen months later he stands one victory, one decisive punch, away from a second chance to challenge for the IBF crown.
“With all the Zuffa stuff the cruiserweight division is getting so exciting by freeing up the IBF title for guys in the wings to contest.
“I don’t think anyone wanted to fight Jai. When I took the fight against him they had gone down the entire rankings list from one to 10. I was ranked 10 at the time and was the only one willing to fight.
“Jai moving to Zuffa and taking the money on offer there has opened up the division. We should be scrambling for these titles. Once I get the IBF belt, I’ll start looking at the WBO.
“I believe I beat Floyd Masson and I believe I beat Viddal Riley. They’re both great opponents. They don’t necessarily do any one thing really well but they’re well-rounded, tough, strong, fit.”
The Nyika and Masson camps have until the end of April to negotiate terms and agree a venue to stage the world title eliminator or the IBF will order a purse bid.
Masson’s promoters are keen to stage the fight in Australia but David Higgins, Nyika’s manager, is attempting to engage a series of backers to bring the bout to New Zealand.
“I think we should do it in Hamilton,” Nyika said, hopefully. “Floyd is from Te Awamutu, I’m from Hamilton. The Claudelands Events Centre is 400m down the road from the house I grew up in. I know both of our people will come out in numbers.
“I’d love to do it in New Zealand. Hamilton would be super special. I’d love to fight in front of my old school buddies. It would be a big reunion for the Hamilton mob.
“This is a big fight for boxing and New Zealand. I’d love for the community to get behind it. This is the peak of the sport, and it just happens that two of the top contenders are Kiwis abroad.
“Let’s bring it home, get our army together and make a big party out of it.”
What a way to mark a new chapter that would be.
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.