As newly-minted undisputed champion Dmitry Bivol ponders his options, the IBF's No. 2-ranked light-heavyweight contender Conor Wallace is keeping busy as he anticipates the world titles fragmenting later this year.

After being unveiled as part of the undercard for Jai Opetaia's IBF cruiserweight world title defence against Italy's Claudio Squeo (17-0, 9 KOs) in mid-May, his opponent has now been revealed.

He is set to face France's Dylan Colin (14-1, 4 KOs) in the card's chief support slot live on DAZN worldwide from the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia.

BoxingScene were first to report the development.

Colin enters the contest after suffering his first professional defeat, a wide 10-round decision against Oleksandr Usyk's stablemate Daniel Lapin (11-0, 4 KOs) on the undercard of the Ukrainian's rematch with Tyson Fury last December 22.

Also mentioned was the return of Ben Mahoney (15-0-1, 8 KOs), who scored a wide UD10 win over Fan Zhang on the Opetaia-Nyika prelims in January. The unbeaten Aussie will box Joepher Montano (19-5-2) over ten rounds for the IBF Inter-Continental junior-middleweight title.

Northern Ireland-born, Australia-based boxer Wallace (15-1, 11 KOs) seized high standing in the IBF world rankings after a split decision nod over New Zealand-based Englishman Jerome Pampellone (19-2, 12 KOs) last August.

That fight was another IBF eliminator for the sanctioning body's no. 2 spot, four months removed from Malik Zinad beating the London-born light-heavyweight via majority decision. Five weeks later, the then-unbeaten Libyan was thrust into an impromptu world title shot against Bivol, who scored his first stoppage win for six years.

Germany's Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) is the existing mandatory challenger for Bivol's title and previously agreed a step-aside fee with former titleholder Artur Beterbiev to pursue an immediate rematch of their first showdown on October 12.

To retain all four championships, Bivol would have to opt out of a trilogy as well as a career-high payday for WBA, WBC interim champion David Benavidez - per WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman - to face the unheralded 27-year-old next.

The most likely scenario is that, like Usyk did last summer, he relinquishes one of his titles and the IBF's stringent rules regarding mandatories means they are most likely to strip him if he doesn't. In that case, Eifert would be ordered to box Wallace for a then-vacant title later in the calendar year.

Naturally appreciative of the opportunity, Colin said: "It's a great opportunity to come and fight in Australia against IBF number 2 Conor Wallace. I'm honored to be the co-main event alongside Opetaia, whom I met in Riyadh during my last fight. Wallace is a tough Irish fighter, another left-hander, but I gained valuable experience against Lapin in my previous bout."

He cites training with Beterbiev as evidence that he's ready to produce an upset against an opponent who could really do without a stumbling block, targeting world honours later this campaign.

Wallace competed thrice in 2024, more than any of the IBF's top-10 ranked boxers at 175-pounds. Having stopped then 7-0 hopeful Jack Gipp inside six rounds, his career-best decision nod over Pampellone was followed by a stoppage win against 7-0-1 Asemahle Wellem over eight four months later.

He climbed off the canvas to avenge his only career defeat by Leti Leti (18-2, 14 KOs) a year-and-a-half later and in a press release, spoke about the importance of maintaining his momentum.

"Dylan is a formidable opponent and I'm not looking past him. Every fight is crucial as I edge closer to a world title shot, my focus is entirely on May 13 and delivering a performance that keeps me on track."