Katie Taylor insists she is "better than ever" as the legendary boxer prepares for a make or break rematch with Chantelle Cameron at the 3Arena on Saturday night.
Taylor suffered a surprise first professional defeat to the reigning super lightweight champion in a homecoming fight in May.
Now the underdog for the rematch, the Bray woman faces the biggest challenge of her career to bounce back at the age of 37 against an unbeaten and improving opponent.
Cameron was formidable in the first fight, looking the more natural at the weight and starting much brighter than her opponent.
Despite this, Taylor invoked a rematch clause for a second chance at Cameron, knowing another defeat will be a potentially fatal blow to her career.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport at a public workout in Dublin today, she said: "It's hard to pinpoint what went wrong. I just didn't feel my best. I wasn't myself. Everybody who has seen the fight realises that. At the same time, all credit to Chantelle. I just have to step it up now on Saturday. I'm very, very confident I'm going to overturn things.
"I've been absolutely fine. It was obviously a heartbreaking night. It was not how I wanted my homecoming to go, obviously. I have a second chance here. I went back to the gym straight away and started working. You learn so much from the failures and losses. I'm not one to dwell on the past.
"I don't want to look back and feel sorry for myself. I just get on with things. I was in the gym that week (after the loss) and working towards the rematch. Here we are a few days away and I'm very grateful I have this opportunity and the chance to bring big-time boxing back to our nation again.
"I have a chance to rectify things. It was a very, very disappointing night but that is all part of the journey. Life is full ups and downs. That is where all the growth happens, throughout the failures and losses. I have a lot of hope. I knew the rematch was coming. I put the work in and I feel better than ever for the rematch."
Taylor does not believe the step up in weight was a major factor in losing, with becoming a two-division undisputed champion her ultimate goal.
The excitement of a long-awaited homecoming made her emotional on the ringwalk – but in the end it was a lonely shuffle out of the ring in the aftermath of the judges' scorecards.
Retirement is nearing for the veteran, but the manner in which she goes out is all-important to one of Ireland’s greatest ever sportspeople.
"That's not the way I want to end my career," she said.
"I'm just super-excited about this fight. Over the last few months preparations have gone fantastically well. I put the work in day in and day out. It has been a long hard training camp. Now the fun begins, that I can step into the ring on Saturday night and do what I was born to do.
"Obviously I can't do this forever. I realise that. I definitely don't want to do this forever either - I don't want to be taking punches for the rest of my life. But right now I feel fresh and great. I don't think it's ever good to be thinking about retirement just before a fight.
"My mind is completely focused on what is ahead. I'm loving my job still. I'm still so passionate about it and my body still feels great. There's no point thinking about retirement just yet."
Cameron has said she is "all wrong" for Taylor and has promised an emphatic win on this occasion.
She spoke about the motivation from feeling underestimated and her belief that she will "hurt" Taylor.
Despite the loss, the Olympic gold medalist is not feeling any rage going into the rematch.
"I wouldn't say there's any anger there. I'm a fairly composed person. But I am very, very competitive. You don't get to this stage in your career without that competitive spirit. I love to win. I hate to lose. It's a heartbreaking feeling to lose.
"The winning feeling is obviously amazing and that is why I train so hard. I just want to step into the ring and perform to the best of my ability and may the best person win.
"I'm definitely envisioning a great night for myself. Like I said, I have put all the hard work in. I've an amazing team, coach and family. The support has always been incredible. I feel amazing going into the fight."
Follow a live blog on Chantelle Cameron v Katie Taylor on Saturday from the 3Arena at 9pm on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app
