Four months after the heartbreak of her first career defeat, reigning British and Commonwealth super-flyweight champion Emma Dolan returns to the ring this weekend in Nottingham to kick-start her path back to world title contention.
In her April challenge for the IBF world title at London's Olympia, the Dereham puncher and firm betting favourite found herself on the canvas three times before her corner reluctantly threw in the towel in the third round.
The hugely experienced champion Irma Garcia proved too much for Dolan on the night.
"Take nothing away from Irma [Garcia]," says a sanguine Dolan. "I was patient in the opener [carefully dictating the pace and distance] and I should have boxed sensibly like that for a few more rounds until things started to open up.
"But I got a bit complacent, jumped in too early and walked onto a shot. Although my head felt fine and clear, my legs never really recovered from that. I felt like I could've got up all night, but I just couldn't stay on my feet – it was so frustrating."
Of equal frustration to Dolan were some issues outside of the ropes that impacted her camp and overall preparation ahead of the biggest night of her career.
"It's no excuse, but I had a few things going on in my personal life," explains the 28-year-old. "Out of arrogance, I just thought it would still all come together on the night. But when you get in there and your mind's not fully on the job, it shows. I just had too much going on in my life and wasn't focused properly on it. You can see in the ring-walk that I wasn't lasered in. Irma is a great fighter, but I know that if I was at my best, the result would have been different."
In a sport where fighters operating outside of the big promoters have to scrap for everything amidst an ever-diminishing small-hall scene, this very public loss could have easily put a permanent brake on Dolan's world title aspirations.
Yet she credits Sky Sports commentator and former world cruiserweight titlist Johnny Nelson with immediately helping to get her back on track.
"I was walking back to the dressing room right after the fight and Johnny grabbed me," reveals Dolan.
"He was like, 'This has happened. Your career is now what you make it after this point. It's up to you now. This can be a small chapter in it or it can be the end of the story and permanently define you.'
"I took that on board. At the end of the day, I still want to do it. I still want to be world champion. Boxing has never given me anything easily. I've come through adversity before. With my team, I have put together a roadmap to make it happen."
The first phase of this is a bill-topping six-rounder this weekend against the durable Antonella Shirley Molina. The Argentine has fought 37 times, losing the vast majority, but has only been stopped twice. Dolan hopes Molina will give her a solid workout and an opportunity to shake off some of the rust ahead of bigger battles.
"Antonella is a bit heavier than me. She's tough and should give me the opportunity to get some rounds out," outlines Dolan.
"I don't want someone that will just go over in a round or two. I want to get ring-sharp and enjoy it."
Then with mission accomplished, what's the next part of the plan?
"Well, it has to be Shannon Ryan," says Dolan emphatically, adding to the ongoing war of words with the Anthony Joshua-managed Watford puncher, whom she dropped and outpointed two years ago for the British and Commonwealth straps. "Yeah, that fight really motivates me. It's no secret that I'm not keen on her.
"A win there and I'll be straight back in line for a world title."
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