Joe Cordina will prepare for his next opponent with a new trainer after parting with Tony Sims.

Discussions are unfolding for a potential fight between the Welshman and Shakur Stevenson on the undercard of the undisputed light-heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It was in Riyadh in May where the 32-year-old Cordina lost for the first time, when as the IBF super-featherweight champion he was stopped by Anthony Cacace.

He has long spoken of his desire to move up to 135lbs, and also to fight Stevenson, 27. Whether Stevenson-Cordina happens next may yet be determined by the outcome of purse bids ordered for a fight between the WBC lightweight champion and William Zepeda, but Sims, who has worked with Cordina for the past seven years and who remains on good terms with his former fighter, will not be in his corner. 

Cordina is expected to announce his new trainer soon, and, regardless of the existing trend among many of his contemporaries who seek to work with American trainers, to recruit another based in Britain.