Robin ‘The Grim Reaper’ Reid |
Robin Reid isn’t hanging about on his ring comeback, after getting the taste back last week in Bolton, and shaking off the cobwebs out-pointing Jamie Ambler over four rounds. He now enters this Months ‘Prizefighter’ Super-middleweights on March 23rd.
Reid, the former WBC super-middleweight champion of the world, had last been in the ring three years ago, when he lost to Carl Froch in a fight for the British title. Froch went on to win Reid’s old title by beating Jean Pascal in a terrific fight, while Reid called an end to his illustrious career both amateur and pro.
Reid, now 40, had always been a fine specimen of a boxer, always was and still is in good shape, cut as he always was, he as kept himself in great shape while out of the square ring and that is testament to him being able to come back and fight in the same super-middleweight division.
“Saturday was a real buzz and it felt so good to step back into the ring,” said Reid.
“I knew I would be rusty but that was the whole point of having the fight before Prizefighter.
“I’m glad I got the four rounds under my belt because it’s got some of the cobwebs out of the way even though I know I have plenty of work to do before the 23rd.
“Whoever I get in the draw it’s going to be tough as its all these boys’ world title fights but I’m confident I can come through this tough battle.”
Reid was being touted to appear in Matchroom’s last Prizefighter event – the Light-Heavyweights II in February – but decided that the home base of Liverpool’s old circus hall, Olympia in his familiar weight class was the more appealing option with more time to prepare for the 17th edition of the eight-man, one-night tournament.
Victory in Bolton last week (left) took Reid’s record to 40-6-1 and means his career now spans 18 years, with eight world title fights, he as been in with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Jeff Lacy, Sven Ottke, Carl Froch, Brian Magee and Henry Wharton. He was an Olympic Bronze medalist and is the biggest named draw on the Prizefighter bill at Liverpool’s Olympia. But despite having this experience behind him, there was one person he had to get past before deciding to box again.
“I know it sounds silly, as I’ve just turned 40, but when making any big decision I always still ask my Mum,” Reid told the Liverpool Echo. “She has always made the right decisions and had she said ‘Rob, I don’t want you to do it and get hurt’ then I would’ve totally respected that and would not be making the comeback. If she had though I was too old, then this would not be happening, but she doesn’t think so.”
Reid is joined in the Prizefighter line-up by two fellow Liverpudlians in former British champion Tony Quigley and Commonwealth title challenger Carl Dilks and Matchroom Sport can confirm the names of three more hungry young fighters in the mix.
Leicester fighter Jahmaine Smyle (Leicester, 24), Enzo Maccarinelli’s highly-rated nephew Tobias Webb (Swansea, 22) and Leeds’ Wayne Reed (23) take the line-up to six fighters with the final boxer to be named soon.
Tickets for Prizefighter Super Middleweights II at Liverpool Olympia on Wednesday 23 March are available from Matchroom Sport priced £30 unreserved, £50 ringside and £100 VIP – to buy call Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.
Meanwhile Matchroom Sport have agreed a new two-year deal with Sky Sports to continue showing championship boxing shows as part of the channel’s Saturday Fight Night programmes.
The contract, which will run to September 2012, will see Matchroom supply more boxing to Sky than any other promoter. A host of regular events, featuring either European, British or Commonwealth title fights, as well as six Prizefighter tournaments, will be screened annually.
Matchroom Sport Managing Director Eddie Hearn was delighted with the new deal. He said: “As boxing continues to boom we are delighted to continue our relationship with Sky Sports. We both share a passion for the sport and events like the Prizefighter Series and Haye v Harrison ensure growth within a mainstream audience.”
Over the last year, Matchroom have promoted a number of European, British and Commonwealth title fights with the most high-profile being Audley Harrison’s stunning last round victory over Michael Sprott for the European Heavyweight Championship.
Matchroom have been supplying boxing programmes for Sky Sports for nearly 20 years and promoted legendary boxers such as Chris Eubank, Prince Naseem Hamed and Lennox Lewis.
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