Carl Froch hopes to regroup with a fight on home turf next year after being handed his second career defeat by Andre Ward. The Nottingham fighter, who lost a close decision to Mikkel Kessler in 2010, was undone by Ward on Saturday night with the unbeaten American always in control en route to a unanimous decision win in Atlantic City.
The slick WBA champion added Froch's WBC title to his collection while also lifting the Super Six tournament trophy to anoint himself as the world's top super-middleweight.
Scores of 115-113 by two of the three judges suggested the Boardwalk Hall clash was closer than it actually was, with British judge John Keane closer to the mark with 118-110.
Froch, 34, admitted he got his tactics wrong against the awkward but classy Ward.
"I'll come back and be stronger," promised the Englishman, who belatedly came on strong in the later rounds. "I'll grow from that. I felt fit and strong and the further the fight went on I felt like I was getting into it. I think the scores suggested that, and as the fight went on I was getting into it and winning the later rounds."
As for his next move, Froch wants a well-deserved home fight having boxed overseas in his last three bouts.
"I definitely want to fight back in England, back at home, that's for sure," he said. "But I'll let my promoter Eddie Hearn address that."
Matchroom's Hearn believes Froch (now 28-2) remains a big draw.
"Obviously the Super Six tournament has brought us many things and is a great tournament," he said. "But what it does do is take away your power to really plan and map out your own future. It feels quite nice to have the shackles off now and we're back in control of Carl's career.
"It's been a long, long time fighting away from home since the Andre Dirrell fight in 2009. The support and coverage he's got have made him one of the country's top fighters so people want to see him return.
"You always know what kind of fight you're going to get with Carl Froch. We're speaking to Lucian Bute, and obviously the Kessler fight is a great rematch, but for us it would be nice to do something back in Nottingham at the City Ground. “We want a two-legged fight – April in Canada and then July or August at the City Ground – and his people were very receptive to that."