One-time world title challenger Michael Zerafa has insisted a matchup with former junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu is more compelling than younger brother Nikita, ahead of his return against America's unheralded Mikey Dahlman on Wednesday.

Zerafa (33-5, 21 KOs) will appear in a 10-round contest as part of an undercard featuring Keith Thurman's most recent opponent Brock Jarvis at middleweight against Sam Beck (7-0, 4 KOs) and, unsurprisingly, the 33-year-old fancies returning to relevancy at world level.

The card will be headlined by Nikita Tszyu-Lulzim Ismaili at ICC Exhibition Centre in Sydney, Australia. Should Tszyu and Zerafa prevail, it's all systems go for a domestic duel at a National Rugby League stadium show come December.

In conversation with Fox Sports Australia, Zerafa also took aim at Nikita's older brother and former WBO beltholder, Tim, accusing the 32-year-old of running from what he believes to be a bigger fight. During Tim's championship reign, Zerafa was seen as little more than a domestic, convenient option to explore — though times have sharply changed since then.

"No Limit were banking on Tim Tszyu winning against [Sebastian] Fundora and that's why they've been continually saying how if I want to get to him, I had to go through little brother first.

"Tim lost, so I don't need Nikita. I was fighting for world titles when Nikita Tszyu was still drinking breast milk — his mum, not his wife's — people forget this. While I don't need Tim either, his only return is through me."

Tim's boxing future remains in doubt, having retired after seven completed rounds in his much-anticipated Fundora rematch last month for the WBC 154-pound title.

While the 30-year-old spoke on social media about moving forward and the goal not changing following another damaging defeat, he's 1-3 in his last four fights.

"If Tim does come back and fights anyone but me, who is really running? I've fought bigger names and in more hostile conditions, why would I shy away from him?"

Nikita (10-0, 8 KOs) returns to the spotlight after enduring a lengthy layoff through rehabilitating a hand injury, which he admits isn't yet fully healed. The 27-year-old is ranked 11th and 15th at 154 pounds.

He faces Macedonia's Ismaili (12-0, 7 KOs) knowing that bigger opportunities await him if victorious, particularly in style, whether that be a seasoned name such as Zerafa or otherwise.

Zerafa has won consecutive bouts by stoppage, since himself being stopped with one second remaining of the second round against WBA titlist Erislandy Lara in March 2024 on the Tszyu-Fundora undercard in Las Vegas.

Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) is slated to face former unified welterweight champion Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) on October 25 and Zerafa — ranked No. 8 (WBA), 11th (WBO) and 15th (IBF) — wants to work his way back towards world level contention, too.

He'll be contesting a vacant WBO regional beltpreviously held by another No Limit-promoted contender in Venezuela's Endry Saavendra (17-1-1, 14 KOs), slated to face Britain's Denzel Bentley in a final title eliminator for unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.

"He has one highlight-reel knockout. I have 22 of them. I've got nothing against the guy, he's just the roadblock in my way."