By Ian Aldous: Dmitriy Salita (33-1-1) looks to end his hiatus away from the sport and return with a bang in 2012. The big target is an autumn fight with fellow Brooklyn native and current WBA world welterweight champion, Paulie Malignaggi (31-4). This week Dmitriy took some time to talk with me about his absence from boxing and potential fight with ‘Magic Man.’

Dmitriy, himself a former challenger of the WBA light-welterweight title has been away from the ring for 13 months due to varying factors and fights falling through. “Well, yeah and as you reported before I signed the contract to fight Ismael El Massoudi for the WBA interim championship and for many different reasons the fight would never happen. It was supposed to have happened in November of last year. Also when Paulie was having his doubts of going over to the Ukraine (to fight Vyacheslav Senchenko), I was gonna take that fight.”

Dmitriy was suitably impressed with the emphatic manner of which Paulie travelled away from home and took away the WBA title from Vyacheslav Senchenko last month in the Ukraine, which happens to be the birthplace of Dmitriy. “I thought it was incredible. He did a really tremendous job and he’s a two-division world champion, not a lot of people can say that. He’s a true warrior and he’s the real deal.”

So, I asked how likely is it that the all-Brooklyn fight will be made? “It’s not a done deal yet, no. Paulie has a lot of offers, his people know that I’m ready, willing and able to take this fight, that’s where it’s at right now. The ball is in the champion’s court and I hope they accept my challenge. I grew up with Paulie, we know each other and I guarantee that it would be an incredible fight and the arena will sell out in a matter of a few hours.”

At 30 years of age and his only defeat being against Amir Khan in 2009, we can expect to see Dmitriy taking on some of the big players in the 147lbs division before the end of 2012.