World champion Jai Opetaia hasn't been sucked in by his fresh status as the king of Australian boxing and is shelving the sentiment ahead of a much-hyped domestic return.
The Ring and IBF cruiserweight world champion will defend his belts against New Zealand's late call up David Nyika on January 8 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Nyika, a Tokyo bronze medallist and untroubled in 10 professional fights, took the contest on three weeks' notice after injury struck mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara.
Optaia hasn't fought in Australia since his incredible upset of Mairis Briedis in 2022, the local hope defying a twice-broken jaw to win on points at the same Gold Coast venue he'll return to next Wednesday.
Since then he's romped to four impressive victories, including a Briedis rematch, in bouts in London and Riyadh that have won over Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Al-Sheikh and British promoter Eddie Hearn.
He'll return to Australia as the country's pound-for-pound king, given former world champions George Kambosos Jnr, Tim Tszyu, Jason Moloney and Liam Paro have all since lost their crowns.
Opetaia (26-0), an Olympian when just 17 at the 2012 London Games, can feel the wheel turning after nine years of professional boxing but isn't distracted by the extra noise.
"Right now it means nothing to be on someone's list," the 29-year-old told AAP of his status.
"That's not going to help me win a fight, is it?
"It's awesome to come back here; there's something special about this place.
"It's starting to pay off now - all the hard work - and we're getting closer."
Opetaia has cut a ferocious, simmering figure in the lead-up to his recent fights, an attitude he explains is simply professional.
"It's not so much like anger or hate, it's just we're there for a purpose," he said.
"These fights are very important, put me in a better position to help the people around me.
"This is serious stuff; the victories are changing my life.
"We're not there to make friends and hang out and have a good time."
With that in mind Opetaia has reunited with father Tapu Opetaia, who had coached him until early 2022.
"We've all got to level up and we'll save the family kisses for later," the fourth generation fighter said.
"Now we're back together after two-and-a-half years, doing the basics and what got us there.
"For a while I was just focused on taking everyone's head off."
That strategy had worked well in early knockouts of the outclassed Ellis Zorro, Jordan Thompson and Jack Massey.
Nyika could prove more of a handful though, the Gatton-based Kiwi an amateur standout like his rival and regular sparring partner of Opetaia until early last year when it became clear they were on a collision course.
Trained by Alex Leapai's former corner man Noel Thornberry, Nyika has hand-written affirmations posted around his house dating back more than two years promising to knock out Opetaia.
The card also features Australian heavyweight prospects Justis Huni and Teremoana Teremoana in separate bouts, super welterweight prospect Ben Mahoney and Leti Leti against Austin Aukoso for the IBF Pan Pacific lightheavyweight title.
