Joe Cordina says he hopes his return to the ring sees him fight for the world title he never lost.
Cordina, 31, became Wales’ 12th world champion boxer when he beat Kenichi Ogawa in Cardiff in June to win the IBF super featherweight world title.
A broken hand then saw Cordina stripped of the title ahead of a defense, but he is now eyeing a fight with new champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov.
“It will be 100% Rakhimov next, I want to fight him,” Cordina explained.
“I need my title back and he has my title, so he’s next.
“When? I’m not sure, but I’m going to suggest a date around the end of March, beginning of April, that would be good. In Cardiff, that would be perfect.
“But I’m not in a rush in the sense that my hand has to be 100%. I’m going to have to leave Rakhimov the same way I left Ogawa, tense on the canvas.
“The way I feel I have been treated by the IBF, I feel I have to show them, I have one more point to prove.”
Cordina won the IBF super featherweight title in June with a thrilling knockout win over Ogawabut he was stripped of his title as he was unable to defend it within 90 days after breaking his hand.
This led to Rakhimov – the mandatory challenger – beating Zelfa Barrett to win the title in December.
Cordina’s right hand required surgery and he admits he even considered quitting the sport.
“The first three or four weeks were difficult, I was even wondering, depending on how long it would take to heal, was it worth continuing. I’m 31 now,” he told BBC Radio Wales.
“Over the past year I have been blessed in so many ways and have been thankful and thankful for all that has been presented to me.
“One day I realized that I was grateful and thankful in the good times and had to be the same in the bad times.
“A door closes and another opens, my path is already written for me.
“Whatever obstacles are in front of me, I have to keep overcoming them. I know where my future is and I will get my title back, don’t worry about that and other titles.
“But it was a tough time for me, sitting at home watching everyone box and being stripped of a title that I had worked so hard for all my life.”
Cordina accepted the IBF’s decision, but says he still doesn’t understand it.
“They said I could fight for this (the IBF world title) but I don’t understand the point of getting naked in the first place,” he said. “It will be the same scenario no matter what.”
Cordina has resumed training and is now waiting for the green light to make full use of his right hand.
“The hand is healing well, I have an x-ray in a week or two, once I get the all clear from the surgeon everything is in place and I’ll be ready to start properly,” he said.
“I touched him to set up some shots with my left but didn’t put any force or pressure on the hand. Once I get the go-ahead, I’ll be good to go.”
Cordina, who weds on Friday December 9, is part of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable and was due to fight Rakhimov in Abu Dhabi this month in his first title defense.
However, the Welshman, who has just returned after following Wales to Qatar in their first World Cup appearance in 64 years, hopes the fight with Rakhimov will take place a little closer to home than the Middle -East.
“Eddie Hearn posted on social media the other day some big news coming up and a Welsh flag emoji so hopefully my next fight will be in Wales because I have a few things planned that all fans of Welsh boxing will love it,” added Cordina.
“Even the football fans there are going to love it too. I have things planned and if it’s in Cardiff it will be on a different level.
“I can’t wait to see where it’s going to be. I want to see the red wall over there.”
You can listen to Joe Cordina’s full interview on Friday 9 December from 7.00pm GMT on Radio Wales Sport on BBC Radio Wales and via BBC Sounds.
