Perth boxer Daniel Dawson has landed an unexpected crack at a world title.

Dawson is set to meet WBO light-middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk, from Ukraine, on May 14.

The bout, at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, is by far the biggest in 32-year-old Dawson's career, in which he has won 34 of his 35 fights.

Germany-based southpaw Dzinziruk, 34, who has a 36-0 record, has defended his belt five times since dethroning Puerto Rican Daniel Santos in 2005.

He was scheduled to meet Sherzod Husanov but the Russian had problems securing a work visa for America.

That gave Dawson his opportunity as he has been training under Hollywood-based Australian Justin Fortune.

"Husanov was having visa problems and we didn't want to take a chance he wouldn't be able to get here in time, so we made the fight with Dawson," promoter Gary Shaw said.

"Dawson is in Los Angeles training with Justin Fortune. He's had management problems, but he's done with those problems and we have a signed contract for the fight.

"Everybody is OK with it. His only loss was at 160 pounds (to Daniel Geale). And Dzinziruk has been here, so there are no issues."

This is a an incredible opening for Dawson, who is not ranked in the top 15 by the WBO, but he faces a huge task in taking down keen sky diver Dzinziruk.

The fight is the first of two massive bouts in 24 hours for Australian boxers. Queenslander Michael Katsidis faces England's Kevin Mitchell in London on May 15.