Featherweight contender Christopher "Smurf" Diaz is motivated to regroup and move forward with his career.

Last month, he suffered the first stoppage loss of his pro run when he took punishment and was stopped in the twelfth round by World Boxing Organization (WBO) world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (33-1, 27 KO's) at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida.

After getting dropped for the fourth time in the fight, Diaz's corner had seen enough and threw in the towel.

Diaz plans to take a few stay busy fights before a step up in class to a much bigger name.

“We are planning to do several class B or class C 'tune up' fights and then go into a stronger fight next year. I understand that in a year and a half the opportunity to fight for a world title will come again. I'm going to be around for a long time,” Diaz told Giovanny Vega.

With the recent loss, Diaz saw his record fall to 26-3 and 16 KO's.

He will now rest for a few weeks and hopes to fight again by the fall.

“It could be between September and October," Diaz said.

“Navarrete told me that I am going to be world champion soon, to keep fighting because the world title opportunity will come. He even told me that he had never felt such a devastating punch before. I hurt him. He felt my punches. He is a world champion who respects me even when I am not a champion. These types of fighters look at me and respect me as if I were a champion or former world champion.

“These losses add to my arsenal of experience. They don't take anything away from me, they add more to me."