Olympic bronze medallist David Nyika has been ruled out of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games due to injury.
David Nyika will not be chasing another gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Photosport / John Cowpland
The 26-year-old has sustained bruising of bone marrow in his left hand following recent bouts in Australia and will be unable to compete for at least six weeks.
"I'm absolutely gutted to be missing out on the Games," Nyika said.
"I still haven't fully got my head around it. It is always an honour competing for New Zealand and I was really looking forward to trying to clinch a third gold in Birmingham."
Nyika would have been in line to make history in Birmingham as the first boxer to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals.
Reserve Emile Richardson has been added to the seven-strong team to contest the U75kg category.
The New Zealand middleweight champion hails from Bulls and said he was looking forward to stepping into the ring in Birmingham.
"There's only one goal and that's to win the gold medal," Richardson said.
"I'm really looking forward to being at such a pinnacle event and competing against some of the best athletes in the world."
Boxing at the Commonwealth Games will begin on 29 July and finish on 7 August, with bouts to be held in the National Exhibition Centre.