Joe Cordina got his wish for a home fight with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov as he tries to reclaim the world title he lost undefeated.
Undefeated Cordina, 31, was crowned IBF super featherweight champion in June 2022 but was controversially stripped of the belt due to injury.
With Cordina unable to defend himself, mandatory challenger Rakhimov won the vacant title last November.
Cordina will face Rakhimov on April 22 at the International Arena in Cardiff.
This is the place where Cordina became Wales’ 12th world champion boxer when he produced a superb stoppage in the second lap of Kenichi Ogawa.
The Cardiff fighter was due to face Rakhimov in Abu Dhabi last November in what would have been his first title defense.
But he suffered a broken hand which required surgery and his inability to fight in a 90-day window saw the IBF rule that he had to retire as champion.
Cordy told BBC Sport Wales he struggled to understand this decision and it left him contemplating his future in the sport.
But he said he had “one more point to prove” as he aimed for a fight with Tajikistan’s Rakhimov, who became champion by beating Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett.
