NEWBRIDGE boxer Bradley Pryce is at a career crossroads after suffering another narrow points defeat on the road, writes Andrew Penman.

The former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion was edged out by Sheffield’s Sam Sheedy over eight rounds.

Referee John Latham judged Sheedy to be the victor on his scorecard, courtesy of a 77-76 margin at the Doncaster Racecourse in Yorkshire.

Former Team Calzaghe fighter Pryce, now trained by Jamie Arthur, was also beaten 96-95 on points by Lee Markham at London’s York Hall in September.

He has also fought in Denmark, Bulgaria and Leeds over the past 13 months but his only victory in that time came in Newport against Raimonds Sniedze in March this year.

Pryce had said before Friday’s bout that that anything other than victory would end any hope of him challenging for major titles again.

“This is the fight that tells me where I’m at,” Pryce told BoxingWales.com. “If I can’t beat this guy, forget titles. I still think about titles, even though I’ve got quite a lot of losses on my record.

“I know on my day, I’m still good enough. With this fight, I’m planning on another nice win and getting back up there.”

Instead Pryce suffered the 18th defeat of his pro career and it is Sheedy who looks to move on to contest the English title and fight for the Commonwealth belt that the 33-year-old Gwent man once held.

Sheedy’s trainer Glyn Rhodes admits Pryce was a tough opponent for his man.

“He had to show some bottle when he suffered a body shot – it was the sort of pain that asks a lot of questions of any boxer,” Rhodes told the Doncaster Free Press.

“He could barely move for a while after that so couldn’t rely on his footwork, he just had to tough it out.

“At the end of the round I didn’t want him to lose his way and read him the riot act. But he surprised me – and maybe even himself – by the way he stayed focused.

“He showed a lot of character, sucked it up, and went on the offensive. Against a tough guy like Bradley I saw things I haven’t seen in him before.”