Rozicki, The Ring's No. 5-rated cruiserweight, will face Gerardo Mellado at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia in his native Canada.

The 31-year-old has endured a frustrating time waiting for his return. Fights have fallen through, while he required surgery on a torn biceps injury and later suffered a false start before a slated October return timeline last year.

"I reinjured the arm," Rozicki (20-1, 19 KOs) told The Ring. "I was preparing for Badou Jack [WBC cruiserweight title fight, May 3], had the surgery, rescheduled [my return] and jumped too quick back into training. I went right into hard sparring with no physio or anything after the surgery.

"I got very lucky that it didn't completely tear or I would have been out for years, it would have really messed me up. I got lucky there."

Rozicki will seek to unload that ill-feeling on his Chilean opponent and doesn't plan to take his time doing so.

"As soon as that bell rings, I'm coming across the ring to get the guy out of there. I have zero plans on going more than one round in this fight.

"Don't get me wrong, I've prepared and I'm training. I did a full eight-week training camp for a 10-round fight, so physically and mentally I'm prepared for the full 10 rounds, but the gameplan is to put him out in the first 10 seconds."

Having sat out so long, he wants to build some momentum on his way to a title challenge.

"I want to get this fight over quick, if the guy gives me a good fight - great," he said. "My plan is to get him out in the first round so I can sign a contract the next day for the next fight and if the next fight is next weekend - great.

"I'm looking to get fight after fight after fight. I want to stay in the ring. I don't want to stay in the gym in sparring wars, I'd rather be in the ring fighting real fighters to stay busy."

The power-punching Canadian is well placed to see what his peers have been doing during his time off.

"I think it's good, there's a lot going on [at cruiserweight], I think it's probably the best the division has ever looked, the only other time maybe when [Oleksandr] Usyk was coming through the division, taking all the belts," he said.

"Since then, it died a little bit but now I think it's at its best. Jai Opetaia is obviously the next Usyk and then you've got all the other guys. I think this is probably the most talent that has ever been in it at one time."

However, there is one man he has considerable disdain for.

"Unfortunately, Noel Mikaelian has [the WBC title] right now and out of all the divisional fighters, I think he's the most cowardly."

"I don't see any other cowards, everyone else is willing to fight anybody, all great fighters - Noel avoided me five times. He pulled out on five occasions, the last time with zero explanation and to me, that's a straight up coward.

"He said a bunch of things about me and then pulls out of the fight. I've got zero respect for him at all as a person or champion and I think he's holding up the WBC belt. I would love to be the guy to get that fight against him. I know [WBC interim champion Michal] Cieslak has got the first shot, fair play, he earned it but if they want me to do it, that's the fight I really want."

Rozicki's mission is set out ahead of him and the decade-long pro won't be deterred from that path.

"The truth is, I've always had my heart and mind set on a WBC world title," he said. "That was the first title I've fought for, I've been devoted to getting that belt. I've come so close twice, Oscar Rivas was a WBC [bridgerweight] title. I was seconds from possibly stopping him in the 12th round, then lost on points. I thought I had it there against [Yamil] Peralta in the draw.

"I've been so close that I have to get it. It's something I have to do, I won't be finished until I get it. Me and [WBC president] Mauricio [Sulaiman] have a deal. I want that WBC belt and want to leave it at Jack Dempsey's grave."

Mellado (12-4, 7 KOs) has been a professional since 2018. The 33-year-old Chilean has suffered a trio of quick stoppage defeats but in his last outing, took once-beaten Jurgen Uldedaj the 10-round distance on April 5.