Shropshire boxer Mark Lloyd is taking on Max Maxwell for title
SHROPSHIRE boxing pro Mark Lloyd will get the chance to become a two-time Midland champion next month when he fights Birmingham's Max Maxwell in his opponent's home-town.
Lloyd, who last lifted Midlands Area gold at welterweight in June 2008, will fight for the same title up at light-middleweight on December 16.
The 37-year old, from Telford, had been due to fight Gloucester's unbeaten British Masters welterweight king Chris Higgs on home territory tomorrow.
A niggling knee injury forced him to pull out but, having healed sufficiently, Lloyd has since been offered the Maxwell bout at Birmingham's HMV Institute.
Lloyd's opponent has a deceptive record of 16 wins, 12 losses and three draws but turned heads in May 2010 when he knocked out future British light-middleweight champion Brian Rose.
"This fight is a lot tougher than the Higgs fight," said Lloyd. "But it is at a better weight for me and it is for a better title.
"I will need to box him because he is naturally heavier than me and if I stand toe-to-toe I'll get caught more."
