Chordale Booker still believes he’ll become a world champion. His time simply hasn’t arrived yet.

Over the last few weeks, it didn’t matter who was in the room, once Booker walked in, he felt like he belonged. That’s what a six-fight win streak can do for you. Never did he feel out of place when he was given the call to face Sebastian Fundora for his WBC and WBO junior middleweight titles either, despite being a gargantuan underdog.

But while his confidence was sky high, going out there and executing his game plan against someone as freakishly tall and skilled as Fundora was the issue.

Success for Booker came few and far between. His jab? Ineffective. Power shots? Meaningless. Movement? Useless. All of it was a recipe for a disaster, resulting in a fourth-round stoppage defeat.

Walking out of that arena without Fundora’s hardware was a difficult thing to do but Booker’s confidence didn’t receive the same blows that he did. Although it certainly wasn’t his night, don’t expect him to keep his head down.

“I know we didn’t get this W but I’ll be back,” said Booker to a group of reporters. “This ain’t the end of me. It’s just another bump in the road.”

These are the growing pains of the sport, something Booker is familiar with.

Back in 2022, in his first step-up fight, Booker was easily stopped in one round by Austin Williams. It was an embarrassing outcome but one that he learned from. Those lessons resulted in him picking up some of the best wins of his career. Still, it didn’t allow him to get over the hump.

Now, with another loss pinned to his record, Booker is leaning on his previous shortcomings. He remembers what the bottomless pit of the 154-pound division looks like. He also remembers what it took to emerge from it.

“It’s a learning experience,” continued Booker. “I’ll bounce back.”