Lloyd Ransome didn't take the final lightly

Lloyd Ransome nearly didn't make the weight for his losing England Development championship final effort - after coming in too light!

The punching physiotherapist, who competes for Rugeley Police Boxing Club, just made it past the super heavyweight minimum of 91kg when he tipped the scales.

His opponent for the title decider, Jamie Tshikeva, rocketed through three-figures and went onto smother Ransome's work for an unanimous points victory, writes Craig Birch.

And the 24-year-old from Hednesford will definitely be dropping down to heavyweight, after defeat at the Rainton Meadows Arena in County Durham on Sunday.

Trainer Ian Lear said: "That's what is best for Lloyd, without a doubt. He was 92.2kg. If he hadn't weighed in with all of his clothes, even his trainers on, he wouldn't have made it.

"Lloyd was convinced he was going to win, we all were, and he's as gutted as we are, but it won't be long before he's a champion.

"We are trying to get him a shot at the UniBox Midlands title at heavyweight early next year and then look again at the Developments again next autumn."

Ransome will step up from Class A, for boxers who have had two to 10 fights, to Class B (11-20 bouts) in next year's competition, before a 2016 debut in the England Elite tournament.

Lear said: "Lloyd has got bags of time, heavyweights don't typically reach their prime until they are between 28 and 30."

Having reached the semi-finals last year, losing to George Groves' sparring partner Luke Watkins, Ransome went one better this time.

But the towering Tshikeva, from White Hart Lane in the capital, proved a step too far as he took the contest into the trenches.

He was saved by the bell as Ransome took the first of three rounds without the head-guards, after evading battle at close quarters to load up a left hook.

It landed bang on the chin and left Tshikeva dazed, signals for the end of the session handing him a vital chance to recover.

The Londoner returned to his game-plan and smothered Ransome for the next two rounds, which saw him claim success at the expense of entertainment.

Lear said: "It made for an ugly fight, this lad was obviously a lot bigger and just mauled Lloyd. He stuck his head in Lloyd's chest and made it hard to work.

"I think he should have had a couple of points off for holding. He was a decent kid but, as a boxer, he wasn't in Lloyd's league.

"He wasn't at his best, by any means, he just couldn't find the room to get on the back-foot and do the things he's good at."