A new opponent will be parachuted in to face David Nyika in his New Zealand homecoming as Blake Caparello refutes the findings of a positive drug test that blew up the main event.
Organisers will name a new rival for the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist on Thursday, just nine days out from the contest at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre next Saturday.
The former world title challenger (32-4-1) was set to be the biggest test of the highly rated Nyika's (9-0) career and the first of a three-fight deal designed to catapult him towards a world title shot.
But that match-up won't go ahead after a Voluntary Anti-Drugs Association (VADA) test found elevated testosterone levels in the Victorian's urine last month.
Caparello opted not to pay the fee to open his VADA B-sample, instead producing test results from another doctor nearly five weeks later - dated days after his initial positive test - that declared his blood and urine was clean.
Promoters, including cruiserweight Nyika's trainer Noel Thornberry, were not satisfied with Caparello's attempts to clear his name and have been scrambling this week to secure a replacement before the Queensland-based Nyika lands in Auckland on Thursday.
Caparello's manager Brendan Bourke released a statement on Wednesday outlining the boxer's intent to contest the findings.
He argued a positive test made no sense given Caparello had requested the voluntary drug tests be conducted.
"I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs and I never will," Caparello said.
Two-time Commonwealth Games champion Nyika, who carried New Zealand's flag at the Tokyo opening ceremony in 2021, has been based in the rural Queensland town of Gatton with Thornberry for the last three years.
Thornberry took Alex Leapai to a heavyweight world title fight in 2014 and is now training Leapai's son, Alex Jnr.
The 18-year-old, unbeaten in two professional bouts, will also be on the Auckland card.
Thornberry is confident both his charges are capable of becoming world champions.
Nyika's homecoming follows an impressive stoppage of undefeated German Michael Seitz on the undercard of May's Tyson Fury- Oleksander Usyk showdown in Saudi Arabia.
