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| Impact Boxing today announced that they had agreed terms for Gary Reid to challenge holder Nigel Wright for the English light-welterweight title at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall of 4th November. Reid will share the bill with a Commonwealth lightweight title contest between Willie Limond and Kpakpo Allotey and a European super-featherweight title contest between Alex Arthur and Sergio Palermo. |  Click for larger image © Karl Stubbs Impact Boxing |
Scotland is notorious for being a difficult place for English boxers to get a decision over local lads and Reid has lost on each of his previous three appearances in the country. However, on this occasion he will be entering the ring with another English boxer and they should face off on a level playing field.
Stoke’s Reid was confirmed by The British Boxing Board of Control as the mandatory challenger for the title in August and has been preparing for the contest ever since. Coming off the back of impressive stoppage victories against very good opponents in his last two bouts Reid is confident and says:
“I’ve been itching to get back into the ring ever since I beat Leo O’Reilly back in May and since I was made the challenger for the title in August I’ve been chomping at the bit; now that a date has been set I can sharpen my focus and prepare properly. I am in great shape both physically and mentally and am convinced that I will give Nigel Wright the fight of his life.”
“My record isn’t what it should be and I have discussed the reasons for this before but it has meant that some opponents have underestimated me recently, that was their mistake and they paid for it. If Wright makes the same mistake he will lose and will come home with the English title. Either way he’s going to have to be on top of his game if he’s going to have any chance at all.”
The in form Reid will enter the contest ranked 11 in the domestic light-welterweight division with Wright being ranked at 6. Wright’s last contest ended in a unanimous points defeat to Lenny Daws for the vacant British title back in May.
Impact Boxing spokesman Karl Stubbs said:
“We are all delighted with Gary’s progress in the gym. Its not a recent development, Gary has been progressing steadily over the last twelve months and he is now close to realising his full potential. Gary has always possessed a world-class punch and you only have to look at his previous opponents to know that he has the courage of a lion, what’s changed is his mental attitude. Gary is now more focused than ever and has the right attitude towards his changing, everyone that knows him well has commented.”
“Nigel Wright is a very good opponent and no-one at Impact is underestimating him but Gary has all the ammunition and all the skill to beat him. We fully expect Gary to emulate Scott Lawton and bring a second English title back to Stoke.”
Elsewhere the British Boxing Board of Control today confirmed Dean Hickman of West Bromwich as the mandatory challenger for Scott Lawton’s English lightweight title. The contest is to take place before the end of February next year.
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