Anthony Joshua vowed to fight on despite being crushed inside five rounds by IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley.
Joshua was floored four times as the magnificent Dubois launched a relentless assault from the first bell that eventually ended with the clear favourite being counted out following a thrilling exchange of blows.
It was a devastating defeat and the fourth of his career which robs him of a shot at becoming undisputed world champion.
But despite such a one-sided all-British showdown that lived up to explosive expectations, Joshua refused to walk away.
“You’re probably asking if I still want to consider fighting. Of course I want to continue fighting,” said Joshua, who declined to take questions at the post-fight press conference.
“We took a shot at success and we came up short. What does that mean now? That we’re going to run away? We’re going to live to fight another day. And that’s what I am – I’m a warrior.
“Always walk with your head high. We rolled the dice for the third time. There have been 13 world-title fights, not every one of them has been successful but every one has been fun and entertaining.
“There were a few mistakes in there but that’s the name of the game. Fine margins will cost you at the top level.
“Also before I finish, we have to give credit our opponent Daniel. When I sign up to fight opponents, I don’t really like them in my head any more. But now that it’s done, I take my hat off to him and say well done.”
Joshua never properly recovered from being floored by a devastating overhand right from Dubois towards the end of the first round that saw him beat the 10-count before the bell immediately came to his rescue.
Promoter Eddie Hearn backed Joshua to continue fighting, drawing confidence from the way he wobbled Dubois with successive right hands in an action-packed fifth round.
“Everyone is very fickle, aren’t they? Yesterday he was in the form of his life, has never looked better – wow, this is unbelievable this new resurgence,” Hearn said.
“He has a bad start, gets dropped, tries to recover his feet and just goes to war with no legs. And finds a way back into the fight and walks on to one.
“It’s heavyweight boxing and that was the danger of this fight. It was a thriller and we just felt the tide was about to change, but you have to give Daniel credit.”
Dubois was accused of quitting following his defeats by Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk and was forced to rebuild, leading to this stunning victory.
Now he will await the outcome of Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21 as he plots his route to becoming the heavyweight’s undisputed king.
“It was going to be my night tonight, by any means necessary. They were all saying I was going to get knocked out but we all saw who got knocked out,” Dubois said.
“I did the business and I’m glad I proved everyone wrong. But this is just the start of my journey. I want to get my rematch (against Usyk) and put that wrong right.
“The Lord had my back tonight and I had my family around me. I couldn’t be denied.
“He could have thrown everything at me and I would have come through it. It felt like a dream in the ring. I just had to seize the moment.”