Boxing News Boxing News
Hanley boxer Gary Reid will contest the British Midlands Area light-welterweight title at Dudley Concert Hall on Friday April 20th. The bout will be the main support for a Commonwealth middleweight title bout between Howard Eastman and Evans Ashira on a Hennessy Sports promoted event that will be televised by Sky Sports.
Reid, who has seen team-mates Scott Lawton and Chris Edwards challenge for British titles during the last month, will face West Bromwich’s Dean Hickman in what will be a re-match of their February 2005 Midlands Area title meeting. On that occasion Hickman prevailed by securing a points decision despite having been sent tumbling to the canvas by a trademark left hook to the body from Reid in the 2nd round.
Hickman, who is currently the mandatory challenger to Scott Lawton’s English lightweight title, boasts a record of won 15 (5 KO) lost 2 drawn 1 and has only been beaten by reigning British and English light-welterweight champions Barry Morrison and Nigel Wright.
Reid’s last outing resulted in a points defeat at the hands of Nigel Wright in November and his tally now reads won 12 (7 KO) lost 16 drawn 1. Close examination of Gary’s record however will reveal that he has fought some of the leading contenders in UK boxing and his former opponents include a current European champion, 2 current Commonwealth champions and a reigning British champion not to mention a number of former champions at each of these levels.
Reid took the fight at short notice but was eager to get back in the ring with Hickman in order to avenge his earlier reversal.
“I was convinced that I’d beaten Dean last time and a lot of people who saw the fight agreed with me,” said Reid today. “That’s just one of many decisions that have gone against me during my career and its good to finally get the opportunity to reverse one of them.”
“I still believe that I am good enough to be fighting for titles at the top level and this is a chance for me to start making people sit up and notice me again.”
Meanwhile the remainder of Team Impact is preparing for a seven-fight card featuring: Jimmy Doherty, Danny Johnston, Imran Khan, Justin Jones, Chris Goodwin, Alex Ibbs and Aaron Thomas. The event will take place at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke on 12th May and tickets can be obtained by contacting Impact Boxing on: 0845 156 7168 or by visiting www.impactboxing.com
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