Mark Lloyd in running for title match-up
Telford's Mark Lloyd will box for the fifth title of his pro career next month when he travels to Gloucester to go up against unbeaten hometown hero Chris Higgs.
British Masters welterweight champion Higgs, who has 12 straight wins, will defend his crown against Lloyd at the GL1 Leisure Centre over 10 rounds on November 23.
The punching plumber was meant to fight Navid Mansouri in Rotherham last week, but his opponent pulled out after breaking his nose in sparring.
It has given the 37-year-old Shropshire boxer the chance to run in the Chester Marathon on Sunday.
He said: "I was going to box at light middle but, because I am running the Chester marathon, I will be fit enough to make welter.
"I know when I feel strong, as well, and if he's as good a boxer as I have been told he is, then I will need to be on the night.
"By that time, I will be awesome, my plan is to drag him into the trenches and take him to places he has never been before.
Lloyd is towards the end of his boxing career but plans to stay fit by getting more involved with running when he hangs up his gloves.
He said: "I think when I give up boxing I will be doing a lot of marathons, as I am not a bad runner.
"If I was as good at boxing as I am at running, I would be a world champion."
