Nikita Tszyu will end a 12-month absence from the ring when he fights on August 20, with an opponent and venue still to be confirmed.
The all-action southpaw has been sidelined since his victory over Koen Mazoudier last August, opting to have a long-standing issue with his left hand surgically repaired.
Now, at long last, the younger Tszyu brother is finally ready to return.
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The bout, promoters No Limit Boxing hope, will set Tszyu up for a showdown with Michael Zerafa later in the year.
“I’ve heard they’re trying to plan it for the end of the year,” Tszyu admitted.
“I think it will be a great test for me, a great way for me to catapult my career. He’s a very well respected fighter and it would be a big stepping stone for me.
“I’m not at his level, I haven’t proven myself. I’ve had 10 fights, he’s had over 30. I’m clearly the underdog in this. I know the test ahead of me, the challenge I have in front of me.”
Tszyu likened the potential fight with Zerafa to his Australian super welterweight title clash with Dylan Biggs, in which he faced an opponent who had previously dropped him in a much-discussed sparring session.
“I thought I was clearly the underdog in that [Biggs] fight, because we’ve had a sparring session and he kicked my arse, so there was a lot for me to prove to myself in that fight,” he added
Tszyu, who became a father for the first time last week, a daughter named Curiosity, said his year out of action had given him time to mature, a little bit anyway.
“I couldn’t care less what he’s said in the past,” he added.
“I say stupid shit all the time, I say things that I don’t really mean. If he meant it, good on him, I don’t care. I’m going to be respectful.
“I’ve had a long year behind me where I’ve had some reflection of how I want to conduct myself and I’m going to try and be an adult. We’ll see how long it lasts.”
His initial plans to return were pushed back earlier this year when he resumed training only for the issue with his hand to flare up.
Tszyu said he’s only sparred twice in the past year, most recently resuming again earlier this week and, while he’s not 100 per cent healthy, is confident he’ll be fine by fight night.
“Usually I don’t really feel anything but in the morning I woke up and I could feel the injury a little bit and I was like, ‘Oh f***, not again,’” he said, before allaying any fears.
“Guys, we’re good. Relax, I’ll be fine.”