David Price is confident he can get his world title ambitions back on track despite Saturday night's shocking second-round stoppage defeat to Tony Thompson. The much touted Liverpool heavyweight saw his dreams derailed when American veteran Thompson tore up the script by catching him with a punch on the ear which left Price on the canvas with his senses scrambled.

The British champion got back to his feet but was on unsteady legs when referee Steve Gray called a halt to the fight, sending the 6,000 Echo Arena crowd into a stunned silence.

"It's disappointing but to be honest it's not the end of the world," Price said.

"S*** happens - I know that more than anyone. I'll come back stronger and I know everyone says that, but what happened there was more of a freak than anything.

"I'm not going to be too downhearted about it, even though I'm gutted. I can't feel sorry for myself, I've just got to get my arse back to where I was. It might take a bit longer but I've got time.

"It's happened to the best heavyweights over the years and with a bit of luck it might turn out to be the best thing that's happened to me."

Promoter Frank Maloney revealed they have the option of a rematch in Thompson's contract.

"Of course if someone beats you, you want to put it right," Price said. "But he won the fight, let him enjoy his victory. I'm not going to start crying for a rematch.

"Frank and I will have a chat and see what's happening and what's best moving forward.

"I hope to get back on track for a world title but of course, it knocks me back. I've got to be realistic about what's just happened.

"It's a big setback. But I've got a good team around me and they can rebuild me."

Maloney needed treatment from paramedics after falling ill at the venue but fears that he suffered a heart attack have been allayed and he was recovering at home on Sunday.

Before that, the promoter said: "We'll sit down, talk about it and decide what to do.

"We have the option in the contract for a rematch if we want to take it and we'll see what we want to do."

Thompson gave short shrift to talk of a rematch.

"They can clause all the hell they want," he said. "I'm not coming back. They vastly underpaid me for this fight and I just took it for the opportunity.

"I've now created that opportunity and if they want to fight me again, then first of all they've got to come to my side of the Atlantic and then they've got to pay me what I'm worth."

Thompson, who courted controversy last week by calling for doping to be allowed in sport, admitted he was tested after beating Price.

"I didn't mind them drug testing me," he said. "I knew there would be a lot of controversy about what I said and that they'd want to pull out the needles, jab me and poke me, even though they didn't put it in the contract.

"I sat there like a good bloke and did what they asked. All they're going to find is doughnut juice and fried chicken. There's nothing artificial there.

"How could you look at this belly and think I'm on something?"