Shropshire boxer Keiron Gray's hard day's night

Shropshire boxer Keiron Gray suffered the third defeat of his career - and then had a glimpse of the less glamorous side of professional sport.

Gray was defeated 79-74 on points by Scottish light-middleweight Kris Carslaw in an eight two-minute round bout at the Raddison Hotel in Glasgow.

Immediately after the contest, the 32-year-old puncher from Horsehay in Telford started the long drive back to Shropshire.

He arrived home at 4am - and was back on the road in his day job as a builder at 7.30am this morning.

"I didn't sleep a wink either," said Gray.

"I was caught with a good couple of body shots in the third round and it feels as though I have either cracked or fractured my ribs so I couldn't get comfortable."

Gray's defeat means he has now won five and lost three of his eight professional contests, but he was far from disheartened by his performance against Carslaw, who has won all 11 of his bouts.

"It was a really good fight," he added. "Carslaw was a good lad when he came forward but I pushed him back in the first couple of rounds and he was in trouble.

"But when I got the problem with my rib, it slowed me down and allowed him to come forward more. He deserved the win but I thought the score was closer."

Gray now begins preparations for the biggest fight of his life - a Midlands light-middleweight title contest against Jamie Ball of Coseley.

That was due to take place at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall at the end of November, but has now been moved to the Holiday Inn, Birmingham on December 20.

"The one thing I do know is that that fight won't be any harder than the one I had last night," Gray added.

By JAMES GARRISON