By Edward Chaykovsky

Former world champion Nicholas Walters (26-1, 21KOs) has vowed to redeem himself after suffering the first defeat of his career last month at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

Breaking a one year layoff, Walters stepped in the ring with one of the best fighters in the sport, WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko.

In an HBO televised headliner, Walters was dominated for seven rounds and then quit on his stool - refusing to fight any further. His decision didn't sit well with HBO, the fans in attendance and the fans watching at home.

Walters still believes that his inactivity was largely to blame and he also felt that his training camp did not have the proper sparring partners to prepare him for a fighter of Lomachenko's quality.

"I thought the risk was worth it," Walters told the Jamaican Star. "I now realise that I needed much more work. I got two southpaw sparring partners to work with me, but it turned out that they were no way of the calibre of Lomachenko. He was the fastest and smartest boxer that I have ever fought, and I just could not cope with his style."

Walters will soon sit down with his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, to discuss his future. He wants to redeem himself in 2017 with at least three fights. Walters will need to look very good to regain the trust of the fans.

"I am going to take some time off and enjoy Christmas. I will then have to sit down and make some critical decisions as to the way forward. I have asked Uncle Bob for some more fights next year, and I am confident that he will deliver. One fight in a year is just not good enough for me. I would like at least three fights next year. I will be very dedicated, because I know that I let down all my fans all over the world, and that I have to make it up to them. Trust me, I will be back, better than ever," Walters said.