Telford boxer Mark Lloyd set for title bout

Punching plumber Mark Lloyd is preparing for his very own Italian Job - and a crack at a version of a European title.

The Shropshire boxer has been handed the biggest fight of his life after landing a crack at the EU welterweight title against holder Luciano Abis.

The 12-round contest will take place on Friday, April 15 in Cagliari.

And, while that will give Abis home advantage, Lloyd is thrilled to have a major boxing date on the horizon.

"I have lost count of the number of times that I have been promised a big fight and then it's fallen through," said the 35-year-old from Telford, who is a plumber by trade.

"I was getting dis-heartened with boxing and I was ready to knock it on the head. But all the contracts and paperwork have come through for this one and I'm really up for it.

"I don't know much about Abis. He has won 30 and drawn one of 32 contests and his only defeat has been on a split decision so he has got a good record."

But Lloyd, whose own professional stats reads 15 wins and three defeats, has undertaken a gruelling training regime to prepare for his big night.

"I'm up at five running every day and then going swimming at 6.30am," he revealed. "I then go to work and four nights a week I'm going over to my boxing gym in Wednesbury."