MANCHESTER, England — Troy Jones is determined to show exactly what he is capable of when he fights Oleksandr Usyk protégé Daniel Lapin at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on November 1.

The former English light heavyweight champion lost a 10-round unanimous decision and his unbeaten record to Ezra Taylor on May 10 in Nottingham. Although the judges’ scorecards were laughably wide, Jones (12-1, 6 KOs) gave the highly rated Taylor plenty to think about before losing a unanimous decision.

The 27-year-old from Birmingham hasn’t allowed the defeat to put a ceiling on his ambitions.

Jones didn’t have a long, decorated amateur career and has spent countless hours drilling techniques and tactics with his trainer, Lee Beard. The time he spent in the ring with Taylor taught Jones that he has been learning the right lessons – he just needs to perfect implementing them at the right times.

He gets the chance to show his improvements when he takes on Lapin, an unbeaten Ukrainian prospect (12-0, 4 KOs).

“Just a bit of inexperience, a bit of getting a bit too comfortable too soon,” Jones told The Ring when asked what he has taken from the fight with Taylor. “I’ve gotta keep switched on and keep to the game plan. It is frustrating, but I’m also happy with what I've done and what I can do. I know what I should have done different, what I could have done different and what I should have stuck to, and that'll just make me a better fighter moving forward.

“I got straight back in the gym, absolutely no issues about it. It’s a bittersweet one because they're raving about him as the next big thing, but I know I'm a better fighter than him all round, so I’ve just got to prove it in this next fight with Lapin.”

Despite the defeat, Jones’ willingness to risk his unbeaten record earned him plenty of respect and, after the result was announced, Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions’ head of boxing, Lee Eaton, both sought him out to tell him they were happy with his efforts.

Plenty of hollow words are thrown about after a fight, but Queensberry rewarded Jones with another high-profile opportunity.

Lapin is a training partner of Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, and there are hopes that the 28-year-old prospect will eventually go on to contend for world titles. Jones understands what a victory could do for his career and is determined to do himself justice.

“If they were happy with that,” Jones said, “then they’re going to be really [expletive] happy when they see what I really do in the gym and what I’m about.

“I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, but I’m a good fighter, man. I’m a better fighter than that and I’m starting to realise it more now. I know I can have a fight, but it’s a bit different than just having a fight. I’m a lot more confident in myself and my ability now as well.”

Last month, Lapin squeaked past Jones’ domestic rival, Lewis Edmondson, on the undercard of Usyk’s fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London.

Edmondson has made his reputation as a slick stylist. Despite his jab being rendered all but useless by the 6-foot-6 southpaw, the British and Commonwealth champion grew in confidence as the fight wore on, was able to impose himself and forced Lapin backward at times.

Jones is a naturally more physical, assertive fighter than Edmondson. He wasn’t impressed by Lapin and saw definite ways that he will be able to be effective.

“Styles makes fights,” Jones said. “When I was younger, because I like to come forward, that sort of flashy pull back that Ezra’s got, it’s not been my kryptonite, but I’ve always had a bit of a struggle and I get a bit frustrated. I’m getting better with it – obviously it’s still there a bit – but I know I’ll beat him next time. A geezer like Lapin that goes backwards, I’m going to eat him up.

“That’s what I’m going to do. I’m not going in there trying to outbox this bloke because Lewis only did that when he got comfortable, when he realised Lapin was weak and had no power. From round three he put it on him, but for the first couple he was a bit tentative himself. I ain’t tentative. I’ll stick it on his toes.”