Pauls revealed that he fractured his left eye socket in the 10th round, one of the reasons for the first knockdown in his professional career.

“I couldn’t see out of my eye afterwards,” added Pauls, who now has a record of 19 wins, two losses and a draw in 22 fights.

“That’s boxing, that’s how it goes sometimes, so I’ll take some time to rest and recover and let my eye heal up.

“I know I can get more belts.

“I’ve got to lead by example, I’m going to take adversity, rebuild and come back stronger like I’ve always done.”

The fight topped the bill at Frank Warren’s Magnificent Seven show at Wembley Arena.

The promoter said he would ensure Pauls had more chances to fight for him in the future.

“I said ‘don’t you worry, we’ll have you back in the ring’,” Warren told TNT Sports after the fight.

“He comes to fight, he’s a fighter, he’s got a fighting heart.

“It takes two guys to make a good fight and that’s what it was, a good fight.”