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TONY DODSON picked himself up off the canvas this morning and promised to bounce back from his crushing British title defeat.
The 26-year-old 'Warrior' was initially distraught after failing to recover from a lung-draining third round body shot in Nottingham on Friday night against bitter rival Carl Froch.
But the former champion has already started drawing out his battle plans for the future.
"I am gutted when I think of what happened in Nottingham," he said, "but I have my health, my family and I only want to look forward.
"I'm still only 26 and I know I can come again. He caught me with a good shot, and that happens in this sport, but I still have a lot to offer boxing and I know that I can go away and rebuild for a fresh shot at the title."
He continued: "I got a bit anxious in the second round and let him back into it, when after the first round I felt like I was in control of the fight."
"The uppercut was a good shot but it never hurt me, but the body shot sucked the life from me.
"I went down on one knee and straight away I thought, 'okay, I'll wait until he counts to eight and then get up', but when he got to eight I still hadn't taken a breath and I just couldn't straighten up.
"I tried to, you can see on the replay that when he gets to eight I try and get up, but my lungs were drained and I had nothing in me. I've been hit with good body shots before, believe me, but never has one ever effected me quite like that."
"The shot was terrific and hats off to him," Dodson finished, "but it's just one of those things. It was his night.
"I would like to thank everyone who supported me, everyone who travelled to Nottingham and everyone here at home who were watching on TV.
"I'd also like to thank all the lads in Basra, in the armed services, who I got a message of support from and who I know were all watching over there.
"All I can say now is that I will be back. This is not the end of Tony Dodson and I'll be back in title action again soon".
