Impact Boxing: Gary Reid to Challenge for Honours at Lightweight

Potteries’ boxing promoters and managers Impact Boxing today revealed that Gary Reid will step down from light-welterweight and will campaign at lightweight in future. Reid becomes the latest of an increasing number of boxers who are either moving up from super-featherweight or down from light-welter to swell the ranks of the lightweight division.

Impact Boxing also announced that, following a nomination to the Midlands Area Council of the British Boxing Board of Control, Reid had been approved as the mandatory challenger for the Midlands Area lightweight title.

In May last year Reid regained the British Masters light-welterweight title with a stunning 6th round stoppage of former British title contender Kevin McIntyre and later that month stopped the rated Leo O’Reilly in two rounds at the famous York Hall. Last November Reid took holder Nigel Wright the distance in an English title bout but lost out on points.

Reid’s team mate Scott Lawton relinquished the same title in June last year in order to fight for the English lightweight title. Telford’s Tristan Davies lifted the vacant title in November when he beat Carl Allen on points over the championship distance of ten rounds. Like Reid, Davies had also fought at the heavier light-welterweight limit previously. With nine bouts to date, all victorious, Davies is far less experienced than the Stoke fighter who has now had 29 professional contests and has opposed many of the best in the light-welterweight division. Reid’s only previous foray at the 9st 9lbs lightweight limit was against O’Reilly last May.

Tristan Davies is entitled to make a voluntary defence of his title before he is required to face off against Reid. A date and venue for the match has therefore yet to be arranged.

Reid said: “I have been saying for a while now that I would like to make the step down in weight category and have been working hard lately at getting my weight down and keeping it down whilst maintaining my fitness. I’m on record as saying that I haven’t always prepared properly for fights in the past but that is all behind me now and I am doing all the right things. I prepared properly for the Nigel Wright fight last year and had no problem in going the distance so I know that 10 rounds won’t be a problem for me in the future.”

“I am anxious to get back to winning ways again and the Midlands title is a good place to start. It’s a title that Scott Lawton held and I am happy to follow in his footsteps.”

In the meantime Impact Boxing are preparing for their next event at Stoke’s Kings Hall which will take place on 24th February. Tickets are available by contacting the ticket line on: 0845 156 7168

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