Jamal James planned to end what was already a one-year layoff the last time a “Premier Boxing Champions” card came to his hometown of Minneapolis.

The former WBA world welterweight champion caught COVID-19 for the third time, though, while preparing for that November 5 bout at The Armory. James has contracted coronavirus twice since the last time he fought in October 2021, which has prevented the 34-year-old contender from beginning what he hopes is another successful run in the 147-pound division.

“I’ve caught COVID three times now since this whole pandemic started,” James told BoxingScene.com. “It’s been crazy. And I got the shots and everything.”

Once his November 5 fight was scrapped, James got his booster shot. Over the past couple months, he has taken every extra precaution possible while preparing for his televised fight against Argentina’s Alberto Palmetta on Saturday night to ensure that his return to the ring isn’t delayed yet again.

“Leading up to this fight, we played it extremely safe,” James said. “We trained when there wasn’t anybody in the gym. We sparred with particular people and made sure they got tested, stuff like that, because it really set me back for a while, getting sick like that.”

James (27-2, 12 KOs) tested positive the first time in the aftermath of his 12-round, unanimous-decision victory over Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) in August 2020 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. He won the WBA interim welterweight title by defeating Dulorme and was later elevated to world champion.

Russia’s Radzhab Butaev beat James by ninth-round technical knockout in James’ most recent fight, which took place almost 16 months ago at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. James caught COVID-19 again after he lost to Butaev (14-1, 11 KOs, 1 NC), and then again in October while he was preparing to box November 5.

None of James’ three bouts with COVID-19 required hospitalization, but he was particularly frustrated when he caught it a third time.

“Like a month before the [November 5] fight, I messed around and got COVID,” James recalled. “It really sucked. I was hoping I could just beat it and still be good, but I beat it and then we only had three weeks left until the fight. And, you know, when you’re a professional athlete, especially in boxing, you don’t wanna play around with that stuff. Because I felt good, but I felt like [I was in] normal shape.

“I noticed when I would go in there and spar, I’d get fatigued a lot, sooner than usual, because that virus really attacks the cardiovascular system. So, instead of pushing it and coming in halfway looking good, we figured we’d go ahead, sit out for a second and really get the cardio system back where it was at before I got sick and then get back in the ring. So, that’s what we did.”

Showtime will televise the 10-round bout between James and Palmetta (18-1, 13 KOs) as its co-feature of a three-bout broadcast scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET. Argentina’s Jeremias Ponce (30-0, 20 KOs) and Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias (18-1, 18 KOs) will fight for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title in Showtime’s 12-round main event.

The 6-foot-2 James, who has lost only to Butaev and former WBA welterweight champ Yordenis Ugas, won four straight bouts before his hometown fans at The Armory in 2018 and 2019. He’ll fight there for the first time Saturday night, however, since he defeated Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco by unanimous decision in a 10-rounder in July 2019.

“I’m looking forward to it, man,” James said. “It’s gonna feel good to get back in the ring and do it at home, you know, get the rust off and go out here and really put on a good performance. I’m definitely not taking this dude lightly. You know, any time anybody comes to your hometown to fight you, you’ve gotta assume that they’re coming, you know, to upset you, with a point to prove. But I’m feeling extremely confident. We’ve put in a lotta hard work and I’m ready to go.”

Caesars Sportsbook had made James almost a 3-1 favorite to beat Palmetta, a southpaw who has won 12 fights in a row. The 32-year-old Palmetta hasn’t lost since countryman Gonzalo Gaston Coria (21-6, 8 KOs) knocked him out in the fifth round of their November 2017 bout in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

“From what I’ve seen, he’s just gonna come right at you,” James said. “He got a lotta heart, got a little bit of a punch. But, you know, with me being one of the sounder welterweights, you know, most of the guys I fight have to fight me the same. They’ve gotta find a way to get inside. They’ve gotta find a way to put that type of pressure on me.

“But every guy does it differently. Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses, so we’ll see what he’s looking like once we get in there Saturday night. Like I said, I’m feeling confident. I’m not underestimating him. I’m gonna go out here and give a great show.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.