Fast forward six months and he's now searching for a return after enjoying some down time away from the hustle and bustle of boxing, visiting Saudi Arabia, where he went to Mecca with his son.

"I'm exploring options and will decide what's next soon but will be back in May," Akhmadaliev (14-2, 11 KOs) told The Ring.

"I didn't sustain damage in that fight, so I wanted back in the ring as soon as possible. I'd love another shot at Inoue but with his mandatories, it's tough.

"I'm open to anyone at 122 or 126—whatever makes sense. I'd prefer a title shot, but it's out of my hands. We have a good relationship with Matchroom, my team's working on the next move. Personally, I just want to fight—I miss the ring. I've got a lot of fight left, and want to deliver for the fans."

The 31-year-old from Uzbekistan, The Ring's No. 2-rated contender at 122 pounds, freely admits things didn't go according to plan when he met "The Monster."

"Looking back at the Inoue fight, I'm grateful for the experience," he said. "It was a huge event and a big opportunity to become undisputed.

"Sharing the ring with one of the pound-for-pound best, Inoue, was an honor and huge lesson. Absolutely, I admit Inoue was the better fighter that night. Great gameplay, great discipline. He did a great job."

Akhmadaliev, who is rated inside the top-10 by three sanctioning bodies and No. 11 with the IBF, says he could have delivered a better account of himself that night but has since put that performance behind him.

"Of course, some things went wrong on my side, but that doesn’t matter now," he admitted. "Talking about what happened after doesn’t change it. I didn't adjust in the fight, and that's on me. Fighting in Japan is very different from the U.S. or Europe timing, rules, schedule —it affects anyone who will go there in a major fight."