Zelfa Barrett could soon be set for another crack on the world stage.

The former IBF super-featherweight title challenger took on Shavkat Rakhimov for the vacant title last November and was stopped inside nine rounds.

Barrett was winning the fight on the judges’ scorecards at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last year before being dropped twice ahead of the fight being called to a halt.

Rakhimov took on ‘Brown Flash’, a former European and Commonwealth champion, after Joe Cordina was stripped of the title he won against Kenichi Ogawa last June.

Cordina knocked out the Japanese fighter inside two rounds to clinch his first global honour and was ordered to face the Tajikistani southpaw within 90 days of the victory.

The Welshman suffered a hand injury in his first spar back before facing ‘Shere Khan’, forcing him out of the fight, with Zelfa stepping in at late notice.

Fast forward 10 months and Cordina is back in the ring again –– this time, against Rakhimov, attempting to regain the red, green and gold belt he never lost between the ropes –– with Barrett on the same card last Saturday at the Cardiff International Arena.

‘The Welsh Wizard’ expertly secured the goods with a split decision victory over the visitor, while Barrett moved to 29-2 with 16 quick finishes via a competent display over Jason Sanchez in which he claimed the vacant WBA Continental super-featherweight crown.

And there have been calls since fight night for the 29-year-old nephew of Pat Barrett to get another opportunity at the big time –– calls that were firmed up by Steve Wood, the manager of Barrett, who fronts up VIP Boxing.

“There’s nothing signed or confirmed,” Wood stated when speaking to Steve Lillis and John Evans on the VIP Boxing Bell 2 Bell podcast, “but we’ve been told that Zelfa Barrett’s next fight will be for the world title against Joe Cordina.”

Barrett, however, is just one of a number of names in the mix to face the undefeated former Olympian Cordina, with the WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster.

Eddie Hearn, Cordina’s promoter and the head of Matchroom, revealed that the team are targeting the American as their preferred opponent for a unification showdown, should one of those be next.

Foster won his title with a unanimous decision over former WBC super-bantamweight king Rey Vargas when the pair met back in February.

But Wood is confident that his man will be in the ring with Cordina sooner rather than later.

“I was just a bit disappointed on Saturday,” Wood added, “that [Zelfa] was four fights from the top of the bill.

“I thought they should have used him just before the fight between Rakhimov and Cordina and then more eyes would have been on him and it would have been better for the fight when they come together.”

Details surrounding when the pair may meet in the ring will be revealed in due course.