Shropshire boxer Mark Lloyd to fight on

Resolute Shropshire boxer Mark Lloyd has pledged to plough on with his boxing career despite his Italian Job heartache.

The 35-year-old from Shifnal was controversially beaten by Luciano Abis in Cagliari on Friday, the home boxer winning on points after the contest was stopped at the end of the sixth round because of a cut above the Italian's eye.

That ended Lloyd's hopes of bringing the European Union welterweight crown back to Shropshire, but he will continue to pursue his dream of chasing a notable title success.

"I'm still distraught about Friday because I know I was hammering him and that I would have won the fight," said Lloyd.

"I'm totally gutted, but my feelings now are that I will carry on.

"My wife (Charlotte) doesn't want me to give up and Errol (Johnson, his manager) says I'm boxing more like a youngster than a 35-year-old.

"I still want to win a title — but it has to be a decent one."

Friday's defeat has left Lloyd with a record of 15 wins and four losses from his 19 contests.