Justis Huni could provide some heavyweight support as Jai Opetaia's camp use newly acquired broadcast leverage in their fight to salvage a "s*** six months for Australian boxing".
The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belt-holder hasn't fought in more than a year, when he defied a twice-broken jaw to upset Latvian Mairis Briedis over the distance on the Gold Coast.
Opetaia's manager Mick Francis has flagged an August 23 defence at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre against popular Brit Richard Riakporhe, with negotiations to be finalised within a week.
World-ranked Brisbane heavyweight Huni, who Francis also manages, would feature on the undercard providing he's fit after an ankle injury scuppered the unbeaten boxer's US debut last month.
The card would be shown on sports streaming service DAZN, which beams into 182 countries, after Francis's Tasman Fighters secured a landmark broadcast deal this week.
Injury setbacks and then the dragged-out withdrawal of mandatory challenger Mateusz Masternak have frustrated Opetaia, who faces the prospect of defending his belt in the United Kingdom unless the Queensland government back the event.
Francis said that would be a huge blow to Opetaia's chances and Australian boxing in general in an anticlimactic year, most recently blotted by the scrapping of Tim Tszyu's unification fight with Jermell Charlo.
"We're trying to build boxing back to where it was, even just last year," he told AAP.
"It's been a s*** six months for Australian boxing.
"It's going to be hard; Riakporhe's contracted to Sky Sports UK, so the idea is that we put it on DAZN and beat those guys at their own game as well."
Opetaia (22-0) has genuine hopes of unifying the division and Francis wants to avoid the murky waters of an overseas defence to begin his charge.
"They play all these little tricks and games," he said.
"It's happened so many times to Aussies and when it does, it's too late.
"Why should Jai have to take this risk when he's a champion? He's pulling his hair out (waiting to fight again) and I can't blame him."
Tasman Fighters will hold its first event under the DAZN banner - the platform used exclusively by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, where Huni is also signed - next Friday at Brisbane's Fortitude Music Hall.
DAZN broadcasts combat sports, NFL, women's soccer and extreme sport and annual subscription costs $75.
Francis said the deal offered another avenue for Australian boxers after Fox Sports had signed an exclusive domestic contract with No Limit, which is powered by Tim and Nikita Tszyu.
"No Limit are walking around thinking they're the kings of Australian boxing, yet nothing's happening," Francis said.
"They've got some good, talented fighters but they're always fighting underneath the Tszyu boys and they've had one, four-fight card (other than pay-per-view fights) since striking that deal.
"We want to work with every fighter, every promoter, every gym, every manager. Everybody.
"We're here to bring boxing back.
"More shows, more activity, more opportunity and fans can watch it."
