Ex-world champion Jeff Fenech (of Maltese origin) is planning a rematch with Azumah Nelson, 16 years after their last bout attracted 40,000 people to Melbourne’s Princes Park.

Australian Fenech, who won world titles at three weight divisions in the 1980s, said he would fight Nelson on 24 June at Pattaya, Thailand.

He announced the rematch after his scheduled comeback bout against Samart Payakarun, who he beat to win the WBC super featherweight title in 1987, was cancelled.

Nelson and Fenech fought twice: the first ended in a draw at Las Vegas in 1991 and Nelson won the second with an eighth-round stoppage the following year.

Fenech, 43, has not had a professional bout since 1996, while Nelson, 49, has not fought for a decade.

“One door closes and a bigger one opens that is much better,” Fenech said of the change of opponent. “We’ve just about finalised everything, we’ve already agreed and we’ve just got to get a contract.

“He said he would love to fight again and give me an opportunity to get what I think I deserved, evening the ledger.”

Fenech has worked with Mike Tyson and Danny Green among other boxers since turning to training and promoting boxing.