Tszyu (12-0, 10 KOs) told The Ring earlier this year he was still a few fights away from world title contention and that rankings didn't accurately portray his standing at 154 pounds.

The 28-year-old faces the toughest task of his budding career against decade-long pro in Mahoney (17-0-1, 9 KOs), who won domestic honors before clinching and making two defenses of an IBF regional belt since January 2025.

Josh Kelly makes his first IBF junior middleweight title defense against Caoimhin Agyarko on the Anthony Joshua-Kristian Prenga undercard this weekend and next month's winner will be maneuvered towards world title contention in 2027.

Tszyu is the sanctioning body's No. 7 contender. Mahoney sits two places back in latest update.

Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-1, 17 KOs) will face Brandon Adams (26-4, 16 KOs) in a final eliminator later this year, after the Russian's promoter Main Events won a May purse bid and plans to stage his return at home this summer.

Deep into Errol Spence-Tim Tszyu fight week, an official announcement with a venue and undercard information is expected in the coming weeks. Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide have been floated as potential host locations.

No Limit CEO George Rose said: "Nikita is the genuine star of Australian boxing, and now he’s got another world-rated Australian standing across from him with world title glory at stake ... it doesn't get any bigger than that.

"Ben Mahoney is as tough as they come. A lot of people thought this fight shouldn't happen, but these are two genuine fighters who back themselves, and the fans are the ones who reap the rewards.

"Expect brutality, raw power, absolute fireworks. Two undefeated Australians, ranked inside the world’s top 10, with everything on the line. This is what the sport is supposed to look like."

The development was first reported by Fox Sports Australia, which spoke to the 31-year-old last month after No Limit made Tasman Fighters-backed contender an offer he relished.

"Right now, I'm in my prime and the winner of this fight between Nikita and I, they'll then go on to massive things. I'm getting goosebumps just talking about it now and that's because I have such belief in what I can do.

"If Nikita or I wasn't ready to test ourselves with a fight like this, we shouldn't be doing this sport. He's a good fighter who is big, strong, explosive and comes in there to get his fights done ... but there are also a lot of holes in his game."

While Tszyu is an exciting, largely untested quantity, Mahoney feels his experience will pay dividends when they meet. He'll have height and reach advantages while having racked up almost double the completed rounds (102 to 57).

After stoppage wins over Oscar Diaz and Lulzim Ismaili – sandwiched between an anticlimactic Michael Zerafa affair – the onus will be on Tszyu to deliver an impressive display, stepping towards world-level opposition.

Mahoney scored a grueling 10-round points win over Dan Hill (7-3, 3 KOs) on the Jason Moloney-Andre Donovan undercard in April, two weeks before Tszyu's commanding display against Spain's then-unbeaten contender Diaz (16-1, 6 KOs).

"We've seen that when he fights tough, durable guys – fighters like Ben Horn and Koen Mazoudier – that power doesn't always do the damage it needs to. That's when he gets himself in trouble. I've got a great chin, I'm experienced, durable and move well. I also have power and am a lot smarter than these other guys [he's fought]."