Bolton boxer Jack Cullen says he is staying positive and determined to get back in the ring as soon as possible after his weekend defeat in Liverpool.

‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’ was looking to hack away at 22-year-old Diego Pacheco’s unbeaten record at the M&S Bank Arena after being promoted to co-headliner.

But the young American proved too much for 29-year-old Cullen and the fight was stopped by referee Steve Gray less than a minute into the fourth of 10 rounds with Cullen down for a second time.

However, while acknowledging the best man won, Cullen is far from downbeat and wants to keep working towards a possible shot at the British title later this year.

The super middleweight told The Bolton News: “I trained really well for the fight and said there would be no excuses and there aren’t - the best man won.

“Let’s be fair, he is a world-class prospect.

“I thought I was doing all right to be fair but then he caught me with a great body shot and I couldn’t really recover - it can happen that way.

“Yes it was disappointing but I have to stay positive and remember that I realised a dream on Saturday.

“It is every boxer’s aim to headline a big arena bill and I had the chance to do that.”

It was only the fourth defeat of Cullen’s 26-fight pro career and saw Pacheco win the vacant WBO International Super Middleweight belt.

And having been an English champion at middleweight in 2019, Cullen says he wants a British title shot this summer.

He added: “I aim to be back in summer and want a British title shot.

“It may be I have an eight-rounder first, maybe on a Steve Wood show or with Matchroom but I want to be back out June or July.

“I am staying positive because I know what I can do.

“I came up against a good fighter on Saturday.”

One thing Cullen is rarely beaten on is his home-town support from Little Lever.

A huge travelling army of fans made the trip along the M62 to Merseyside on Saturday and Cullen says it is incredible to have the backing of everyone.

“I reckon there was at least 500 there,” he said.

“They always support me and I can't really thank them enough.

“Hopefully, they will stay behind me because I am staying positive.

“I will be back in the gym this week and the hard work continues.”