Junior Witter is counting the cost of his WBC light-welterweight title defeat to American Timothy Bradley at the Nottingham Arena but insists he will be back to regain his crown.
Witter had hoped to use the third defence of his title to pile more pressure on Ricky Hatton for a domestic super-fight, but after deservedly dropping a split decision verdict he will be forced to set his sights much lower.
The hard road back will begin with a mandatory shot at the European title contested between Giuseppe Lauri and Londoner Colin Lynes in Turin next week, but Witter says it is a route he is willing to take.
Disappointed Witter said: "There is no way I am retiring after that. I will go for the European title and come back that way. I have no doubts I will get back to the top and reclaim my title."
Witter was floored heavily from an overhand right in round six and failed to find his range against Bradley, who set the pace throughout and extended his own unbeaten record to 22 fights in the process.
The Palm Springs 24-year-old - 10 years Witter's junior - looked impressive and can now assume Witter's position of calling, with some justification, for a showdown with Hatton.
For Witter it will be a time for reflection and his trainer Brendan Ingle admitted: "That was the worst I've seen from Junior tonight. He never got going and I would say he was only 50 per cent out there.
"But we won't give up and we'll come back the hard way. If that means fighting for the European title or even the British belt then that's what we'll do. You haven't seen the last of Junior.
"Remember he fought a very good unbeaten fighter, got back up after a heavy knockdown and only lost by a single point. But I cannot dispute the verdict, even though I think I draw might have been more fair."
Two of the three ringside judges had rewarded the American's greater workrate with 115-113, 114-113 decisions with the third saw it 115-112 to Witter. But Witter's sixth round knockdown proved decision.
Bradley landed a crashing right hand which toppled the Bradford man for the first time in his career, and he looked dazed as he clambered to his feet at the count of six to continue the contest.
If Witter had shaded the early portion of the fight, this was the turning point. His reliance on single shots was not allowing him to dominate and clever Bradley was increasingly finding his range with his right hands.
Bradley piled on the pressure in round seven and clattered another right hand through Witter's non-existent guard. But the champion belatedly stepped up the pace in a poor fight in which the action came in spurts.
Ultimately few in the arena disagreed with the decision, which sparked wild celebrations amongst the Bradley team, and set up a lucrative future of which Witter, for the moment at least, can only dream.
Nottingham's Carl Froch took out his frustrations on late substitute Albert Rybacki with a one-sided fourth round stoppage which kept him in the frame for a WBC super-middleweight title shot.
Froch teed off on the previously unbeaten Pole, who had stepped in at two days notice following a succession of withdrawals, and referee John Keane's intervention with Rybacki still on his feet was timely.
Froch said: "It's been a nightmare for me mentally but I've come through it and now I'm in exactly the same position as I would have been, which is the mandatory challenger for the WBC title."
With Joe Calzaghe certain to vacate, Froch could find himself in against the likes of former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor or the winner of the imminent clash between Fulgencio Zuniga and Jean Pascal for the vacant crown.
Froch added: "Now it's all about keeping the momentum going because it's been frustrating having to hang around for six months. I don't care who I fight as long as I get my shot at the world title."
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