The former unified super-bantamweight champion has spent the year trying to pin down a fight with Naoya Inoue, but failed to book a bout with the division’s undisputed champion, so he’s relieved to be getting back in the ring against Ricardo Franco this weekend.

He told Boxing News magazine: “It’s very pleasant news for me to be back in the ring.

“I missed it. I wasted the whole year waiting on someone.

“I’m happy to be back in the ring, happy to have an opportunity to fight again.

“It’s been a while – longest ever in my life without boxing – so I missed it.”

And the boxer – who hasn’t fought since December 2023 – is looking forward to the challenge Ricardo will offer him.

He said: “Nothing but respect – he’s a good, tough guy, a true Mexican, comes forward, always an exciting fight.

“I’ve seen him with Danny Roman in a very exciting fight. A couple of his other fights, he comes forward, he throws a lot of punches, Mexican style.

“So, like everyone else who I step in the ring against, I respect him and I expect him to bring his A-game.”

The 30-year-old fighter hopes he is now on a pathway to move towards his ultimate goal of undisputed champion.

He said: “I don’t think about any names or opportunities or whatever. I’m just concentrating fully on 14 December. If, God willing, everything goes well, then we’ll talk after that.

“But the ultimate goal is undisputed champion. Nothing else bothers me.

“Nothing else really gets me going like an opportunity to become undisputed champion.”