NEWBRIDGE'S Welsh welterweight champion Bradley Pryce, pictured, has vowed to prove the pundits wrong and bounce back from his latest crushing setback.

The former British title contender has fallen down the ladder with five defeats in his last eight contests, the latest a stunning fourth round KO by London-based Nigerian Ajose Olusegun at the Newport Centre last month.

WBO world super-middleweight champion and close friend Joe Calzaghe advised him to take a long rest after that setback while Wales' former WBO world light-heavyweight contender Nicky Piper said he didn't think Pryce could bounce back from the hammering.

But the 23-year-old was back in the ring training soon after that defeat and today told the Argus: "I will get back to where I want to be and that's among the top British welterweights.

"I still believe in myself and believe the Welsh fight fans have not seen the best of me," Pryce's career started to slip when he was stopped with just seconds of the fight left against the dangerous Ted Bami at Cardiff in August 2002.

He returned to KO Ted Lynch in Derby before slugging it out with Neil Sinclair for the British title and was ahead on points before being stopped in the 8th round of 12 by the hard-hitting Irishman.

A points win over Russian Ivan Kirpa followed but then came a points defeat by Zimbabwe's Fasai Musiyiwa when Pryce moved up in weight followed by a points loss to Mancunian Thomas McDonagh in a bid for the WBU international light-middleweight title.

He then looked unconvincing in beating veteran Keith Jones for the Welsh welterweight title before the Olusegun crash and to get back to the top now he will have to do it the hard way.

"Sports Network (to whom Pryce is contracted for two more years) have given me permission to fight on other people's shows and that's what I will be doing," said Pryce.

"I was due to fight a Russian on October 29, but he has since been injured. That fight may now go ahead in December but I hope to fight before that. I need the money," said Pryce.

"Against Olusegun I seemed to have a mental block. There had been nothing wrong with my training but I did not box according to plan. I got too involved.

"I went straight back in the gym to take my mind off it and as for people writing me off, I'm in the sport for another ten years and I'm determined to get where I want to be.

"I've changed my style a bit, concentrating more on boxing and on my jab and maintaining composure and it's a question of doing what I do in training in the ring.

"I'm not going to get any easy fights and I have to accept that but I'm still determined to get back."