The matchup between Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa is getting a proper chief support bout.

Former junior welterweight titleholder Liam Paro (27-1, 16 KOs) and Paddy Donovan (14-2, 11 KOs) are set to meet in an IBF welterweight title eliminator, promoter George Rose announced during a press conference on Tuesday.

The action will take place on January 16 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Australia as part of a No Limit Boxing show.

“There has been an agreement reached on that fight,” said Rose. “While it hasn’t been officially signed off, everything has been agreed on. A man’s handshake is pretty much as good as a contract. So that’s where we’re at right now. It is agreed. It’s going ahead.

“Liam Paro will be fighting Paddy Donovan. This will be a final eliminator for that world title, and I’m stoked for Liam Paro. Because of the journey he’s had, becoming a world champion, losing his world title, and then fighting his way back to that position, we’ve been really excited for him to be on this journey to get back to the top where he belongs, and this is the fight that puts him there.”

Paro has scored back-to-back wins against Jonathan Navarro in June and David Papot in September after suffering the first loss of his career during the first defense of his 140-pound IBF crown against Richardson Hitchins last December. Prior to meeting Hitchins, Paro notched a career-best win against Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico in June 2024.

Donovan, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back losses this year against Lewis Crocker. Donovan suffered an eight-round disqualification defeat in March and dropped a split decision to Crocker in September for the IBF title.

Neither Paro nor Donovan is ranked in The Ring’s top 10 at 147 pounds. The IBF, however, has Paro rated at No. 2 and Donovan at No. 3.

“We’re stoked that Paddy Donovan’s locked in,” said Rose. “We’ll get him out here, introduce him to Queensland and send him home with another loss, because Liam’s headed for the top. This is a very tough fight. Don't get me wrong, I thought Paddy looked the better in that fight [against Lewis Crocker]. Mark my words: Liam Paro’s a world champion, and he’ll be back at the top.”