Change of opponent for Mark Lloyd in title bout
Shropshire boxing pro Mark Lloyd will have to deal with a change of opponent if he is to take the Midland light-middleweight crown later this month.
The 37-year old was due to tackle Birmingham's Max Maxwell in the second city on December 16 at the HMV Institute.
But Maxwell has pulled out after being offered an English title shot at champion Erick Ochieng this weekend, with fellow Brummie Nasser Al Harbi now stepping in against Lloyd.
The new opponent is well known to Lloyd, as the pair last fought in a six-round bout in October, with Al Harbi taking a narrow points victory.
After a slow start Lloyd felt he was getting the upper hand late in the bout, which saw Al-Harbi deducted a point for holding in the sixth round.
Their next bout will be held over the longer 10-round distance but Lloyd's manager Errol Johnson believes the change of opponent will suit his fighter.
"He finds Al-Harbi awkward because he is a boxer (rather than a slugger) but if he lets his punches go and gets his work rate going early he will give him a lot of trouble," he added.
