Wladimir Klitschko has insisted he was "glad" to have lost his world heavyweight titles to Tyson Fury in December ahead of a re-match with the British boxer.
The 40-year-old Ukrainian, world champion for nine years, is now set to face Fury again in Manchester, northern England, on July 9.
"Losing feels good," he told BBC Radio Five. "I'm glad that my hand was not raised that night. "Failure is not an option unless it is the only way to get better, and I had to get better. I needed a push to get better and I got it. I feel it."
Klitschko, was then the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation, International Boxing Organization and World Boxing Organisation champion, suffered a unanimous points loss in Dusseldorf, with Fury's victory considered an upset by some pundits.
"I didn't show my full potential in the fight," Klitschko said. "Physically I was in one of my best shapes, but mentally I wasn't there, not present in the ring.
"After a while, you get used to defending and not conquering the man in front of you. It will be different on July 9."
Klitschko, beaten just four times in 68 bouts, had not lost for more than 11 years until he faced Fury, unbeaten as a professional.
"If you want to destroy a person, give him five years of success. I had no failures for 11-and-a half-years," said Klitschko.
"After a while it's OK to make a mistake and I made a mistake against Fury. I want to make that clear in my revenge and it is what I'm looking forward to."
