Jimmy Stewart can almost taste it.

After having International Kickboxing Federation world championship bouts canceled before because of visa problems and broken bones by his opponents, Stewart might finally get a chance at his elusive title shot late this summer.

"I've been trying to do this for two years," said Stewart, 42, who is 18-0 with 11 knockouts in his pro kickboxing career. "I'm excited. This has been what I've been working for. I know I'm a world class kickboxer."

Stewart, a Butler native, is scheduled to fight Jim Bibiski of Chicago in Atlanta sometime in September. The bout was originally scheduled for Aug. 7, but Stewart needs extra time to heal after his brutal win against Bernard "Swiftkick" Robinson Friday.

Stewart won a unanimous decision against Robinson, who retired after the bout.

"He had nothing to lose," Stewart said. "He wanted to come out and win back the title I won from him in 2002. He gave me everything he had."

But Stewart triumphed, winning a 96-94, 98-91, 97-93 decision in he 10-round bout in Morgantown, W.Va.

It was the third time the two met in the ring.

Stewart called it the toughest bout of his career.

"The guy kicks like a mule," Stewart said. "It was non-stop throwing a kick from start to finish. He kicked me in the arm four or five times and it shocked my whole arm. But there is no time to feel pain in this sport."

Stewart didn't turn pro until he was 36, but he quickly climbed the kickboxing ladder, winning the World Kickboxing Organization and World Wide Kickboxing Federation super welterweight titles, as well as the IKF U.S. Light Middleweight title.

But the IKF world title has always been the goal - and the most elusive.

He was set to fight Russian Vladimir Avtamonov, the then-IFK titleholder, for the belt in Butler in October 2002, but Avtamonov couldn't get a visa to come to the United States.

Because of that, Avtamonov was stripped of the belt and the title was vacated.

That set up a clash between Stewart and Bibiski late last year, but Bibiski broke his foot just days before the fight, forcing the cancellation of the bout.

"I've been real close," Stewart said. "And it's frustrating."

This time might be different. Stewart is not promoting this fight, unlike the first two.

It is a load off his mind. He doesn't have to front money or take time to promote the fight, which often took up more time than his training inside the ring.

"I can just go and fight and have fun," Stewart said. "When it isn't fun anymore, you know you're in trouble."

Stewart is confident he will emerge with another world title - and his most satisfying one.

If he does, the big paydays will come by defending that title, he said.

"What we do in this sport, it's tough to make a whole lot of money," Stewart said. "The little bit of good paydays come when you defend this title."

That means Stewart plans to fight for a long time to come.

"I will try to hang on to it," Stewart said. "I am in that inner circle now with everyone gunning for me. I really feel confident."