Nobuhiro Ishida announced Thursday he will fight for the WBA middleweight championship on March 30 in Monaco.
The 37-year-old Ishida, a former WBC super welterweight interim champion, will take on Kazakhstan's Gennady Golovkin, the WBA's current middleweight champ.
"A world title fight is the greatest chance," Ishida, ranked 15th by the WBA in the division, said at a press conference. "This will be the strongest opponent I've ever faced."
"I want to bring about a miracle in Monaco," he added.
Last May, Ishida fought for the WBO middleweight belt, but lost by decision.
Golovkin, who has made six successful defenses of his title, is undefeated in 25 fights and has won 22 by knockout.