David Nyika is ditching the dress-ups and creating his own character as the unbeaten cruiserweight nears his maiden headline act in a division that's approaching boiling point.
New Zealand's Olympic bronze medallist (9-0) will fight America's three-time world title contender Tommy Karpency (31-8-1) in Auckland on Saturday.
The Queensland-based Nyika has walked out for fights dressed as Hercules, Batman, Optimus Prime and even Kung Fu Panda, but says those days are over.
"I like to spread a good message, inspire the youth and that was the inspiration behind the superhero theme, making it real," he said.
"This is going to be the start of a new chapter where I create my own character.
"We'll make some action figures pretty soon, I'll be The Nice Guy."
Karpency was a late call-up after Nyika's original opponent Blake Caparello failed a drug test, the well-travelled American's arrival prompting the WBO to join the IBF in sanctioning the bout.
Nyika hit the headlines on the way to Tokyo bronze when an opponent tried to bite his ear.
He has since quietly accumulated professional wins while based in Gatton, a rural town inland of Brisbane.
The 29-year-old's now within sight of a title shot, one potentially fast-tracked after England's WBO belt-holder Chris Billam-Smith and Mexico's WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez were locked in this week for a November duel.
Their Saudi Arabia headliner will be the first cruiserweight unification since Australian Jai Opetaia won the IBF title for the first time more than two years ago.
Regarded as the king of the division, Opetaia's fought just three times since and been unable to secure a unification bout.
But Nyika expects the wheel to start turning.
"Billam-Smith and Ramirez for the WBC and WBO titles ... it's getting pretty spicy," he said.
"Whoever's holding two titles, there's incentive for me to lean in that direction and this fight is sanctioned by the WBO.
"We've got a lot of options and once this fight's out of the way we start looking at the most viable route to those titles.
"We're the most athletic and heavy hitting division. If we can make these big fights happen, keep the iron hot and belts moving we'll get a lot of attention.
"Jai, in my opinion, is the best cruiserweight with a title and is firmly in our sights.
"This corner of the globe would relish that fight, when it makes sense."
