Unbeaten Loughran looks one to watch

Charlie Loughran with his team after the pulsating battle

THE weekend gave me my first view of Charlie Loughran, an amateur I’ve been tipped has a fine future ahead.

The Coventry boxer – a young man who certainly looks the part – moved to 10-0 with points victory over Bright Star’s Jacob Lloyd on the Telford club’s home show at the Mercure Hotel.

But Lloyd can walk away with his head held high after pushing heavyweight Loughran very close.

In Loughran (Toe 2 Toe), the 20-year-old faced an opponent who reached the national novice finals. And he wasn’t beaten for the gold – he failed to weigh-in in time.

Yet Lloyd, a man with aspirations to turn pro, made Loughran battle all the way. And there were those at ringside who felt the local lad unlucky to lose a unanimous decision.

I didn’t. For me, 18-year-old Loughran just edged it with his heavier shots. Lloyd produced the better work early on, but Loughran – hindered by a warning for holding in the second – pulled the fat out of the fire down the stretch.

In defeat, Lloyd showed he can succeed at a higher level for the Shifnal based club.