BOOTH: I WAS RIGHT TO FIGHT.

NICKY Booth has hit back at the critics who condemned his decision to fight for a world title on just 10 days' notice.

And the rising Nottingham star insisted: 'That fight will help make me a world champion.'

Bantamweight Booth lost to Jose Sanjuanelo in nine brave rounds at Wembley Arena last month.

The pair were battling for the vacant IBO title and the 21-year-old was confident he could add a third major crown to his British and Commonwealth titles.

But it was too much too soon for Booth who suffered two knock- downs before the bout was brought to an end.

Yet amazingly, the younger brother of flyweight champ Jason has come back from the loss even more certain he will one day conquer the world. He said: 'How could fighting for a world title be seen as a bad decision?

'Sure I lost, but I had little more than a week to prepare. If I'd been through my normal build-up the result would have been very different.

Confident

'I know now what it takes to be a world champion and it's just made me more confident that I can get there.

'I am only 21, I've already captured two major titles with the British and Commonwealth and I've had the experience of fighting for a world title.

'I've achieved a lot already and I'm years away from my prime.

'When I step into the ring now, I'll know that I have competed against the very best. Mentally, I will be stronger.'

And trainer Jason Shinfield added: 'Set up that fight again, give Nicky all the time he needs to prepare and he'd beat Sanjuanelo, no problem.

'Whatever happened in that fight, Nicky was always going to come out of it ahead. He has learned a lot about what it takes to win world titles.'

And Booth has warned that next opponent Jim Betts could be the man who pays for his world title setback.

The pair will meet on the undercard of Jawaid Khaliq's IBO welterweight world title defence on September 15 in Nottingham.

Booth said: 'After fighting for a world title, there's no way I am going to lose to Betts.

'I'll tear him apart. Losing hasn't affected my confidence in the slightest. I haven't lost my belief, far from it.'

The Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre show will be centre stage of another important battle - to see which boxing camp is now the pre-eminent force in Britain.

Khaliq and the Booth brothers have ensured Nottingham is now a buzzing boxing city.

But on September 15 - boxing's super Saturday - Manchester's favourite son, WBU light-welterweight king Ricky Hatton, tops the bill at the MEN Arena with brother Matthew and Michael Gomez in support.

And at Derby's Pennine Hotel, Damon Hague and Dean Ashton battle it out for the Midland super-middleweight title.

CAPTION(S):

MENTALLY STRONGER... Nicky Booth