Boxing News Boxing News
Stoke light-welterweight Gary Reid turned in a stylish performance at Bethnal Green’s York Hall last night to demolish Bexleyheath hot-shot Leo ‘The Lion’ O’Reilly, referee Ken Curtis stepping in to halt Leo’s suffering with just twelve seconds of the 2nd round remaining. Jamaican born Reid has built himself something of a reputation as a body puncher but this time it was the overhand right that was his preferred weapon of choice and the well supported O’Reilly felt it’s full force when he was dropped on three separate occasions inside the opening session. O’Reilly had started confidently and with some purpose using his jab to some effect but was rocked by the power of Reid’s hooks.
Leo was jabbing regularly in reply but Gary remained nonplussed and he was quite happy to walk through his opponent’s shots to unleash further punishment of his own. The end came when O’Reilly, in trouble initially from yet another overhand right and a follow up to the body found himself on the ropes and under pressure as Gary unloaded with a flurry. Referee Mr Curtis hovered momentarily before jumping in to call a halt thus confirming O’Reilly’s 2nd defeat in sixteen outings and acting as the catalyst for no small amount of celebration from the Impact Boxing team.
Having halted Paisley’s capable Kevin McIntyre just three weeks ago Gary has run into a rich vein of form indeed and must now be considered as a serious contender for domestic honours.
Afterwards Gary said: “I have been telling everyone for weeks how well prepared I am both physically and mentally; I am now in the best shape of my life. I’ve got everything going for me now and I’ve got a fantastic team behind me at Impact Boxing. I intend to stay in the condition that I’m in now and I will win a major title before long.”
Top of the bill action in East London saw Nottingham’s Carl Froch retain his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles with an 11th round knockout victory over Belfast’s Brian Magee.
Team Impact’s attention now turns to Scott Lawton’s scheduled away day on 9th June. Stoke-on-Trent Lightweight Lawton travels to Doncaster to challenge Stefy Bull in a final eliminator for the English Lightweight title. This represents the first step in Lawton’s declared intention to bring British honours back to North Staffordshire.
– By Keith Chadwick
