A South African hit-and-run mission for the WBO super flyweight title is firming after Australian Andrew Moloney called out new champion Phumelela Cafu.
Former WBA belt holder Moloney (27-4) emotionally declared he would quit boxing after he lost a tight split decision to Pedro Guevara in May last year.
But the 34-year-old reversed his decision and won convincingly on returning to the ring in December.
He is now well placed to book a shot at a second world title as soon as May in South Africa.
Cafu (11-0-3) dethroned Japan's Kosei Tanaka in an October upset and had been eyeing a defence against multi-division champion Roman Gonzalez.
That clash has fallen through though and Moloney has bolted into the picture after the Australian called out Cafu.
Moloney's manager Tony Tolj told AAP the parties were deep in discussions, with Moloney happy to travel and prepare as if the fight will go ahead in May.
The challenge comes fresh off Andrew's twin Jason Moloney's loss to Japan's former kickboxing great Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo.
That result was a crushing blow for the former bantamweight world champion's shot at another title.
Meanwhile, unbeaten Australian heavyweight Justis Huni (12-0) has risen to No.1 in the WBO rankings, one above British rising star Moses Itauma (11-0).
Huni's British promoter Eddie Hearn is targeting an interim WBO world title fight between the pair this year.
And Huni's Tasman Fighters stablemate Jai Opetaia is finalising details of his next cruiserweight title defence.
The Ring and IBF belt holder improved to 27-0 with a devastating defeat of David Nyika on the Gold Coast in January.
He then immediately called out Mexican great Gilberto Ramirez (47-1), who holds the WBA and WBO titles.
Opetaia has notched five impressive victories since first claiming the belts in 2022, winning over Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh who has assured the 29-year-old a unification bout will come his way in 2025.
