![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4JOAATX_260521NyikaMassonPress_55_JPG.jpeg\")
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\nDavid Nyika will headline a Duco card on 8 August in an IBF cruiserweight world title eliminator with New Zealand-born Australian Floyd Masson.
\nPhoto: Andrew Cornaga\/www.photosport.nz\n<\/p>\n
Kiwi boxer David Nyika is relieved to have a more tangible fight on his hands.<\/p>\n
The Olympic medalist was forced from the ring and thrust into a life-changing battle in 2025.<\/p>\n
His fianc\u00e9e, Lexi Thornberry, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer at just 24.<\/p>\n
It would test Nyika like no fight had before.<\/p>\n
“It was pretty grim. It was a pretty grim six months. But this is my greatest achievement to date, saving Lex’s life, and I think it will always be up there as a huge achievement for me. It’s a matter of doing all the small things, whether you want to do them or not. Inspiration and motivation are so fleeting, but discipline is where champions are made.”<\/p>\n
Thornberry recently finished six months of radiation therapy.<\/p>\n
“She’s on the up now. And that has kind of relieved me of a lot of that pressure because I was the rock. I worked really, really hard to make that journey as palatable as possible for Lex. A lot of character building. I feel like I’ve grown up a bit in the last six months. It’s kind of put everything into perspective. I know I’ve got one life to live and I’m going to live it to the fullest and do everything I can to make it a good life.”<\/p>\n
With Thornberry’s health improving, Nyika is ready to return.<\/p>\n
“It was not the time-out that I wanted but yeah, good to be back.”<\/p>\n
![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4KJUDBC_240914FightNight_113_JPG.jpeg\")
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\nDavid Nyika celebrates with his WBO Asia Pacific Junior Heavyweight Title belt in 2024.
\nPhoto: Andrew Cornaga \/ www.photosport.nz\n<\/p>\n
Nyika will headline a Duco card on 8 August in an IBF cruiserweight world title eliminator with New Zealand-born Australian Floyd Masson.<\/p>\n
Having grown up together in Waikato, the pair share plenty of mutual respect.<\/p>\n
“You see guys like Floyd who have worked their way to where he is today purely through hard work and dedication and resilience. I believe I’m a more talented fighter. I like him, but in a way that you want to punch your older brother. I think it’s a fun fight for both of us.”<\/p>\n
Nyika is well aware of the threat the veteran possesses, having won the IBO cruiserweight crown in 2023.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be hard, he is such a tough guy and a smooth operator in terms of going to the deep end. He’s fluent. For me , just being myself will be enough.”<\/p>\n
It was a tough 2025 for Nyika, who also suffered his first career loss, a brutal KO at the hands of Jai Opetaia.<\/p>\n
Nyika said he still regrets entering a fire-fight with the unbeaten Opetaia.<\/p>\n
“We just started fighting. But I was expecting him to fade in the mid-round so obviously didn’t make it that far. But I backed myself. I backed my fitness.”<\/p>\n
However, the belt Nyika was fighting for that night is now in his sights again, after Opetaia opted to sign with Dana White’s rebel boxing league Zuffa.<\/p>\n
He was stripped of the IBF title as a result.<\/p>\n
For the number five ranked Nyika, a victory over the number six ranked Masson would guarantee the top IBF ranking and a second tilt at the title.<\/p>\n
“It’s funny how it works out, eh?”<\/p>\n
Despite his admiration for Masson, Nyika said he will be able to flick the switch and find the finish.<\/p>\n
“We’ll put our differences aside on the night and we’ll go toe-to-toe because I know that’s what he’s all about. He loves it. And I love it too.”<\/p>\n
Nyika vs Masson<\/p>\n
IBF Cruiserweight World Title eliminator<\/p>\n
Saturday 8 August, 2026<\/p>\n
Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland<\/p>\n