Germany's Juergen Braehmer has vowed to win back the WBA light-heavyweight belt he lost to Britain's Nathan Cleverly after retiring from their world-title bout with injury.

The 37-year-old Braehmer quit due to a right elbow problem at the start of the seventh round of Saturday's bout in Neubrandenburg, near Berlin, making Welshman Cleverly a world champion for the second time.

"It happened sometime in the fourth or fifth round, after that I could only punch with my left," said Braehmer, who had a rematch clause in the fight contract.

"In such a situation, a thousand thoughts go through your mind. If you continue (fighting), you risk an even worse injury. At my age, you wonder even more about that," added the boxer who turns 38 on Wednesday.

The rematch is scheduled for February.

"And then it'll be even more intense," said Braehmer.

It was a disappointing way for the German to lose the world title he won in December 2013.

However, it is only a secondary world title due to the WBA's complicated system. Cleverly is now the 'regular' champion while Russian Sergey Kovalev – the true title-holder – has been elevated to 'Super' champion.

Having lost the WBO belt to Kovalev, who also holds the IBF belt, in August 2013, Cleverly, 29, was delighted to be a world champion again.

The Welshman says he does not care where the rematch against Braehmer takes place.

"Cardiff, London, but we can also come to Germany," said Cleverly. "It's so good to be world champion for the second time. A fight is a fight, with or without injury. My plan was to break Braehmer in the first six rounds and I managed to do that," added the new champion.

Eventually, the 'regular' title-holder will have to face the 'super' champion to decide who is the true owner of WBA belt honours.

Kovalev fights American former super-middleweight champion Andre Ward in a battle of unbeaten fighters on November 19.