By Jhonny Gonzalez

WBC featherweight "champion in recess" Elio Rojas is targeting a ring return in early 2001, says his attorney Tony Tineo. Rojas had been scheduled to fight Yuriorkis Gamboa in a unification battle but withdrew with a right hand injury. He had surgery correct the injury on August 13. At the recent WBC convention, the sanctioning organization left Rojas as the champion in recess, with permission to get a direct shot at whoever will become the active WBC champion at featherweight.

"Next week we will receive a medical certificate to take to the World Boxing Council, notifying them that Elio is almost ready to begin training for a return to the ring. First we are going have a soft defense, and then go to a big fight," Tineo said.