The desire to finish his career on a winning note could spur a battered Anthony Mundine on to one last hurrah - most likely against his old foe Danny Green.
Bitterly disappointed over his hammering by American Charles Hatley to surrender his WBC Silver super welterweight title with a TKO in the 11th round, Mundine says he won't rush a decision on his future.
The 40-year-old looked his age against the 29-year-old Texan, hitting the canvas three times in the second round at the Melbourne arena.
The loss ends a dream of taking on international stars like Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto but Mundine was still reluctant to draw a close to his 15-year career.
His preparation for Hatley was limited to just one sparring session a week because of tendonitis in his elbows as well as hip and eye problems.
Making welterweight - under 70kg - also took its toll and Mundine said he wouldn't fight in that division again.
With his eye stitched and skin on his ribs red raw after being targeted by Hatley, the four-time world champion said he would wait until his body had healed to decide whether he had more left in him.
"I just want to spend time with my family and get my body right and once that's right my mind will start to get right and I 'll figure out what I want to do, whether I call it a day or have a showdown," Mundine said.
"I've come back from this before - I was dropped five times against Joshua Clottey and everyone wrote me off and I came back and beat the number one and the silver champ (Sergey) Rabchencko.
"I know what I'm capable of; it's just a matter of if my mind and heart are in it."
The most likely scenario is that Mundine returns after a long break for a final multi-million dollar pay-off against Green, with them both hanging up their gloves for good after the re-match.
Green, 42, is fighting German Konni Konrad in Melbourne next month.
Post the Hatley fight Green posted on Facebook that Mundine needed him to "keep afloat".
Mundine didn't want to hear Green's taunts.
I don't really care what he's saying or what he's doing," he said.
"I'm relevant when he needs to get his people talking and mouth wagging ... He's built his whole career on me, Mundine said.
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