MICHAEL Jennings insists he is desperate for more big-night fights following his brave defeat to powerhouse Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

In a valiant effort, the Chorley fighter was floored three times and stopped in round five of his vacant WBO world welterweight title clash against the Puerto Rican.

But never the quitter, Jennings is determined to return to his Collyhurst and Moston gym as early as next week in his attempts to get back on the winning trail.

He will now tell promoter Frank Warren to find him more fights on the big stage, and the Chorley Lurcher is setting his sights on becoming British and European champion.

It is a realistic dream for the 31-year-old, who battered the current champions, Poland’s Rafal Jackiewicz, on points back in May 2004.

“I just want to carry on boxing, whatever they’ve got for me next,” said the 31-year-old.

“Obviously, I’m not going to pack up after this. I’ve just been beaten by one of the best in the world.

“He’s a lot stronger than the guys I’ve boxed before, by far the best that I’ve boxed.

“I want to keep going and fight for different things, whether it be the British title or a different title.

“I’ve already beaten the European champion, so why not fight for that? I’m going to carry on, definitely, without a doubt.

“I’ll take a week off and get back into the gym.”

Jennings is aiming to fight back from only his second career defeat in 36 fights, his first coming back in January 2006 to West Bromwich’s Young Muttley.

But he struggled to overcome the canny Cotto, who unleashed a crunching left hook to the body that sent the Chorley Lurcher to the canvas in the fourth round and spelled the beginning of the end.

In an intense fifth round, Jennings tried gallantly to survive any further knock-outs as the Puerto Rican stepped up the barrage.

However, with less than 30 seconds to the bell, a crunching left hook into the stomach sent Jennings onto the canvas for a third and last times, as referee Benji Estevez stepped in to wave the fight off.

Jenning said: “That left hook to the body was a good shot. I’ve never been hurt before and I’ve never been stopped before and fair play to him, he caught me with a good shot.

“I did my best, but Miguel Cotto was just better than me on the night.

“I wanted to carry on but the referee stopped it and that was the end of the fight.”

But Jennings is now hoping that Ricky Hatton can settle a score for him by beating Cotto later this year.

Cotto, 28, may face Manchester’s Hatton if the Hitman defeat Filipino Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2.

Jennings said: “It would be a great fight and I think Ricky can win if they meet later in the year.

“If Ricky wanted any advice from me I would give it, but he might not want it after seeing what happened to me.”