Lloyd a better fighter for early pro setback

Jacob Lloyd with Lou Vidor and Mitch Roberts…back in the ring in March

NO pressure on the lad, but I’ve been watching the progress of Jacob Lloyd more closely than most newcomers.

He’s from my hometown of Shifnal, Shropshire. I know and like his training team – Mitch Roberts and Lou Vidor.

Shifnal isn’t noted for producing champions. Pre war, there was a good, solid pro called Jack “Tiger” Timmins who lost only one of 10. In the 1950s, the market town produced a superb amateur in Pip Taylor who reached an ABA final for the army and faced Olympic gold medallist Dick McTaggart. Taylor could wallop.

There hasn’t been too much to shout about since. Lloyd, only 23, has put Shifnal back on the pro map.

To date – and it’s very early days – I’ve concluded tall Lloyd possesses an abundance of old fashioned bottle, is upright, still removing some amateur traits and has a solid, rather than concussive, dig.

The sole loss on his three bout record has actually enhanced the lad’s reputation. It has, I’m sure, boosted his confidence.

In an era when many house fighters serve their apprenticeship against journeyman, Lloyd faced ambitious, dangerous and unbeaten fellow newcomer Craig Nelson. He gave the Nottinghamshire hope a hard fight before losing on points. He won one of the sessions on the referee’s card.

Four months later, Nelson claimed the Midlands title by halting heavily favoured Tom Pogson in seven.

For Lloyd, that upset result has turned a negative into a positive. It also endorses what I’ve said all along: One hard, 50-50 test early in a boxer’s career is more beneficial, in the long term, than five run-outs with journeymen.

Lloyd made an explosive entrance into the pro ranks, blitzing Michael Osborne in one round back in March. Then came Nelson.

Jacob bounced back in October with a one-sided win over much less demanding opposition.

“I think it showed I’m in the mix,” Lloyd, who boxes again in March, said. “It wasn’t me at my best, there are no excuses, but I think I showed I’m on my way to that level.

“I’m pleased because I’ve proved I can come back from a setback and carry on. I think with that sort of loss early on, people will look at my record and think, ‘OK, I’ll have a go’. I’m happy to go away to fight, I’ll take any fight.”

Lloyd, who faced some real iron in the amateurs, is exceptionally tall for the cruiser division, but has no plans to join the heavyweights. “Not yet,” he said. “Maybe in a few years, but not yet.”

Looking at the lad, I believe Mitch Roberts may be forced to make that decision a lot sooner.

Lloyd’s sensibly in no rush to take the step up to 10 rounders with titles on the line. “Another four rounder, then another four rounder and a six rounder by the end of the year. That’s the plan,” he explained. “With that experience, we’ll look to see what comes in 2027.

“I have a good team, I’m enjoying the pro game every step of the way. I think the longer distances will suit me. With the adjustments I’ve made, I think I can break people down and wear them down. I have a good engine.”

A year of learning with three more wins in the bag, then the step to much bigger things. That’s what Lloyd’s banking on.