RNZ reports promoter Dean Lonergan has asked the government to help foot some of the bill for the WBO title bout against Mexican Andy Ruiz.
But he said millions of dollars in sponsorship still needed to be raised in the next week if the fight was to go ahead in Auckland.
"We're under huge time pressure because the fight's down for December 10 and that's very close," he said.
It was looking likely the fight would be held in the United States instead, he said.
