To say Shannon Courtenay is focused would be something of an understatement.

The Watford boxer is not resting on her laurels after responding to the first defeat of her professional career in emphatic fashion, knocking out Dorota Norek at Wembley Arena earlier this month with a clean right hand in the seventh round after what had been an even contest up to that point.

Having fought just six days before Christmas last year, Courtenay could have been forgiven for enjoying the festive season a little more this time around, instead she is already working on a strategy to line up a world title challenge next year.

"At some point next year I want to be fighting for a world title," she insisted. "I thought I would have more time off for Christmas this year but I'm already back training now and getting myself ready."

A date is in the calendar for Courtenay's next fight, although it is not one she is able to reveal just yet.

Nevertheless, it is something for her to aim for, as she looks to continue making a statement, as she believes she did against Norek.

"I know the date and everything," she said. "There's no point, taking time off when I know I'm fighting again early next year, so I might as well keep ticking over and then when the time is right, we pick up the training when there's a genuine eight week count.

"I think just a win obviously would have done me and my mindset the world of good, but to win and make a statement like I did with that knockout. You don't really get one punch knockouts from women. I did it last December, a big knockout with a left hook and then this one was even more dangerous. It shows that the last big knockout wasn't a one off and I can carry such power and it was nice to make a statement."

Having dropped down a weight category to bantamweight, Courtenay now feels like she is in a better position to show what she is capable of.

She hopes 2021 can be the moment she gets the opportunity to do just that, having ended this year on a high. 

"A loss doesn't define you. It's how you come back from a loss that defines your character and I feel like I showed my true colours with how I came back from the defeat," she said. "Coming down a weight to bantamweight, I've definitely found my weight category now. I'm more comfortable and I can carry extra power with a smaller weight as well. There's definitely more to come for me, 100 per cent. I haven't given 50 per cent of what I can do. I think next year is going to be a very big year for me."