Scores of 114-113, 117-110 and 116-111 ensured the Kazakh southpaw will be the mandatory challenger for WBO/IBF titleholder Emanuel Navarrete.

Navarrete, The Ring's No. 1 junior lightweight, faces WBC champion O'Shaquie Foster in a three-belt unification on October 24 where the vacant Ring crown will also be on the line.

An undisclosed injury meant Zaurbek (21-0, 13 KOs) ended a 17-month layoff in enemy territory, having almost exclusively boxed across Great Britain and his native Kazakhstan since turning pro in 2018.

Queensland's Mantra on View Hotel played host to a marquee 130-pound matchup three months after the original June 27 date was shelved.

After a competitive opening few rounds, the 30-year-old contender commanded control after flooring England (19-4, 10 KOs) with a short right hook in the fourth. That moment prompted the Aussie, whose last appearance was also in April 2025, to gather his bearings once more and compose himself behind measured movement.

England didn't stop trying but was stung for an overeagerness to trade at close-range.

Zaurbek was the more powerful puncher, comfortably outboxing the home hopeful as time wore on and they were headed for the cards.

WBO mandatory Charly Suarez (19-0, 11 KOs) and WBC interim titleholder Ryan Garner (20-0, 10 KOs) will both take precedence in the sanctioning body rotation of mandatory title fights. Zaurbek would be wise to keep active in the meantime against quality opposition, rather than sit on his status and suffer another spell waiting in the wings.