Shropshire boxer Mark Lloyd has been denied a British title shot for the second time – and has contemplated quitting the sport because of it.

Lloyd was due to fight defending welterweight champion Kell Brook at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall on Friday, April 24.

But the bout has been postponed because Sky Sports, who were due to provide live TV coverage, are unhappy with the match-up.

Lloyd was also due to meet Brook for the coveted crown in January, but that was also called off after the British Boxing Board of Control initially refused to sanction the fight.

“It’s ridiculous,” said the 34-year-old plumber from Shifnal. “First the Board wouldn’t give it the go-ahead and now it’s Sky.

“I’m not sure what the reason is. My stablemate Stuart Elwell stood in when I was stopped from fighting in January and he lost to Brook in two rounds.

“Whether Sky think it’s going to be the same story, I don’t know. But everyone else is happy for it to go ahead.”

Lloyd admitted he had done plenty of soul-searching since learning the fight was called off.

“I have been absolutely heart-broken,” he added. “It’s probably the only time sport has brought tears to my eyes.

“I never really let boxing affect me – but this time it did.

“I told my manager Errol (Johnson) that he could tell Sky and the Board where to stick their boxing.

“I had really had enough and I was ready to quit. My wife Charlotte wants me to quit because it has got me down and it’s been affecting me at home.

“But I’m going to stick at it. If I walk away from boxing now I wouldn’t have achieved anything – and I don’t want to look back and say that when I’m 50 years old.”

Lloyd will still be in action at Wolverhampton on April 24 but will now fight Jamie Cox, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist for England in 2006, in what he hopes will be a British title eliminator.

By JAMES GARRISON