The 31-year-old boxer lost on points to his old friend Chris Billiam-Smith at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth in May last year, and he’s recalled how “weird” the whole fight felt at the time.

He told Boxing News magazine: “In the ring it was tough – I felt quite lonely in there.

“It was a weird feeling but I kept on pushing in a type of fight that, if you’re not mentally tough enough, you’ll fold under it.

“Knockdowns, points, the crowd, but I kinda gritted it out.”

Lawrence was able to “accept” the result because he was expecting a rematch, and he admitted it has been “frustrating” that that’s not been arranged.

He added: “I always did have the cushion thinking there was the rematch so I was quite OK after the fight. ‘I’m gonna have that in a few months’ time.’

“Unfortunately, it didn’t transpire so I think that was harder.

“The first couple of days it was tough but once I got home, I accepted.

“I was like, ‘Damn, I’ll get him in the next one’.

“After the fight didn’t happen, that was probably the most frustrating part.”