Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

I nearly fell of my chair laughing, when I read a recent statement online from a TVNZ spokesperson - 'This special event is another example of TVNZ's commitment to bringing the sporting moments that matter to the nation, as we strive to be NZ's home for free to air sport."

The event that the TVNZ mouthpiece was talking about was the Boxing world title fight from Melbourne this Sunday, that has future Kiwi superstar David Nyika and unbeaten New Zealand heavyweight Hemi Ahio, on the undercard.

TVNZ claim to champion free to air sport is a joke, with no better example than their current highly touted Black Caps T20 series with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

We saw live coverage of New Zealand first up encounters with Pakistan and Bangladesh over the weekend. However there is no mention of coverage of the second round-robin stanza's or the final being shown.

Kiwi cricket fans are then forced to fork their hard earned dollars to catch the remaining four games on (pay for view) Spark Sport.

The 1960's and 1970's saw regular world title fights on free to air television in the country. Now top line televised boxing is the preserve of cable television and PPV audiences.

However Aotearoa boxing fans can be grateful for small gifts, in that TVNZ have decided to get on the David Nyika journey, to join David Tua, Shane Cameron and Joseph Parker in making a big mark on the world stage.

The big fight that brings us a look at our two new potential boxing stars, is the World Lightweight title clash, between American Devin Haney, and Aussie George Kambosos who is on a mission to reclaim his three world title belts he lost to the American

David Nyika is undoubtedly the most highly decorated New Zealand amateur boxer to seek professional riches and fame. An Olympic Bronze medal and two Commonwealth Games Gold medallions, suggest that Nyika can join Tua, Cameron and Parker, in getting a world title shot.

Hemi Ahio has snuck under the radar of local boxing fans with an unbeaten 19 fight record. While many contenders pad their record against journeyman and paid losers, Ahio has fashioned his 19-0-0 record against genuine opponents.

So to the two Kiwi fighters on Sunday.

Hemi Ahio squares off with Faiga Opelu who brings a solid 14-3-1 record to the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

David Nyika, will touch gloves with fellow Kiwi Titi Motusaga, carrying a similar record of 4-0-0 into the Melbourne ring. Reading the fineprint, reveals that Nyika's four previous opponents were far better credentialed than Motusaga, and a Nyika victory seems a formality.

This lifetime boxing fan is looking forward to the Sunday fights that kick off mid-morning in Australia, to cater for the lucrative American Saturday night audience.

Now that we have had the TVNZ spiel on free to air sports coverage, can we expect to see regular objective coverage of David Nyika on his boxing journey – As the Tui Ad says, Yeah Right?

The last time that TVNZ broadcast live boxing was in 2007. What's the bet that we will be left with the TVNZ usual fare of cherry picking live sports coverage when it suits their agenda and timetable, amidst plenty of hyperbole from self-proclaimed experts.