Michael Conlan says it took "b***s" to bounce back the way he did from his Nottingham nightmare.
Conlan's world title dream ended in devastating fashion against Leigh Wood, the Belfast boxer being knocked unconscious through the ropes in the final moments of the fight.
WBA World featherweight champion Wood hasn't fought since that win in March, but Conlan responded by taking on hard-hitting Miguel Marriaga back in August.
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He outclassed the Colombian at the SSE Arena, and returned last Saturday night to stop former European champion Karim Guerfi inside one round to finish the year in style.
Conlan admits March's defeat to Wood was a "massive learning curve", but believes he has silenced plenty of doubters across the world.
"I had a world title in my grasp and it slipped away with a minute and a half to go," Conlan said of the Wood loss.
"It was devastating and heart-wrenching, and it will live me with me forever. Until I right that wrong.
"But it has made me a better fighter. You have seen my development.
"Even having the b***s to take the Marriaga fight. I don't think I will get the credit I deserve for making him look very average.
"Even Guerfi is an ex-European champion who battered Jordan Gill, but he just got caught in that fight."
Conlan is now dreaming of another world title shot in 2023.
Potential opponents include new IBF World featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez - who beat Josh Warrington at the weekend - and Isaac Dogboe, who could challenge Conlan for a vacant WBO belt.
Whoever it is he faces, Conlan just hopes he can finish next year with a major belt around his waist.
"I have been saying this for the past few years, but we will keep rolling the dice," he joked.
"Hopefully by this time next year I am a world champion. It is something I have to achieve before I retire from boxing and I will do everything in the power to do it."
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