Former WBO intercontinental light-middleweight champion Gary Lockett has reacted to losing his title by moving up a weight.

The 25-year-old has decided to continue his career as a middleweight after being outpointed by Yuri Tsarenko, of Belarus, in his last fight.

During the bloody battle, Lockett broke a bone and a knuckle socket in his left hand, badly bruised his right hand, suffered a broken nose and had to have 14 stitches in a cut under his eye.

And despite all that, he went the full 12-round distance before a narrow points defeat.

But the Cwmbran fighter admitted he has felt drained in his last two fights, and decided to move up to the 11st 6lb bracket.

Too static

"It may seem odd, having knocked out one of my opponents, but I haven't been the same fighter in my last two fights," said Lockett, who hopes to have his first bout at the new weight in August.

"My body did not react to the things my brain was telling it. I was too static and felt dehydrated.

"So perhaps the defeat by Tsarenko was a blessing in disguise and I hope I can do well at middleweight, especially at home.

"Howard Eastman is out of the picture now and based in America, and although Sam Soliman, Ryan Rhodes, Steve Bendall and Anthony Farnell are good fighters, I think I can match them," he told the South Wales Argus.