Australian boxer Sakio Bika is determined to revive his stalled career on Friday by storming the backyard of American Peter Manfredo and winning the vacant IBO super middleweight title.
Bika boosted his previously low profile 12 months ago by winning the third season of the American reality TV boxing show The Contender.
However, he has fought only once since, notching a first round blowout of unheralded Argentinian Gustavo Javier Kapusi in Sydney in April.
Earlier this year, Bika severed ties with his managers Robert Burton and Angelo Hyder.
The fight against Manfredo, who appeared in season one of The Contender, represents the chance for the 29-year-old Sydneysider to explode back into the public consciousness both in Australia and America.
"This one means a lot, if I win this fight it can open me a lot of doors for next year," Bika told AAP.
"I don't want to miss this opportunity," added Bika, who has a 26-3 record.
Friday's fight will be in Providence, Rhode Island, where Manfredo was born.
Manfredo 27, has a 31-5 record but has never lost any of his many fights in Rhode Island.
Bika, who moved to Australia after representing Cameroon at the Sydney Olympics, is no stranger when it comes to fighting in opposition territory.
In his two previous world title attempts, he had a technical draw with Markus Beyer in Germany and was outpointed by Joe Calzaghe in Britain, who also beat Manfredo in a championship bout.
Well travelled Bika has also fought in Canada, Japan and Indonesia.
"Everywhere I've fought, I've always had the crowd against me, I don't care about the crowd, just who is in front of me," Bika said.
He hoped a win would set up bigger fights against the likes of past and present world champions Jermain Taylor, Jeff Lacy, Bernard Hopkins and Mikkel Kessler.
