A Boxing Memory: Robin Reid

A Boxing Memory: Robin Reid

The memory plays tricks on boxing fans. It allows you to remember Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Steve Collins, Joe Calzaghe, and the rest of that incredible generation of fighters. But Robin Reid, it takes a little more effort to remember his achievements.

The end was predictable. Every former champion seemingly has the same long bitter goodbye. Reid lost his world title in a fight he shouldn’t have been in, and his career never really recovered. He won minor versions of the world title. He lost a couple of fights that were more than disputed. Reid, in his twilight years, had to take fights on short notice. He found his way into Prizefighter and lost a British title fight when his opponent failed a drugs test.

Retirement has been hard. Resentment that he didn’t earn what some of his contemporaries did has led to mental demons. He is certainly not alone in that. But Reid achieved plenty. It perhaps could have been more, but the resume is still nevertheless one that should be celebrated.

Before that, all too predictable anticlimactic end, Reid had many a good night. The Merseyside fighter fought his way out of children’s homes to win Olympic bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before turning professional under Frank Warren the following year. Within three years, Reid was the WBC super-middleweight champion of the world courtesy of a successful trip to Italy, where he stopped Vincenzo Nardiello in 7 rounds with a body shot in a fight few gave him a chance of winning.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler was ringside and told the British fighter, “You did it my way, switched, and won it with a body shot.”

Initial plans to fight Nigel Benn in his maiden world title challenge were derailed when Benn lost his world title earlier in the year.

In 1997, Reid defended his world title three times, including a majority points win over fellow Brit Henry Wharton, before the year ended in disappointment and regret.

The South African Thulane ‘Sugar Boy’ Malinga edged Reid on points in December of 1997, and the now ex-champion would forever regret his decision to fight. Reid was fighting a bad chest infection and had no business being in that London ring.

But after a routine comeback win, Reid got a chance for redemption against the WBO champion Joe Calzaghe in 1999. The Newcastle crowd witnessed a titanic struggle with many feeling Reid was denied a rightful victory. Calzaghe retained his WBO bauble on a bitterly contested split decision, and despite constant calls for a rematch, Reid never got another chance at Calzaghe.

Reid lost his next fight but wouldn’t lose again, including picking up the lightly-regarded WBF title, until an infamous night in Germany against Sven Ottke for the WBA and IBF world titles in 2003. It was a night when there were strange forces at work. Reid who was then 32, was told prior he would need to stop Ottke to win. He didn’t like those voices in his ear. But they had more than a ring of truth. Reid cried robbery. He had a point. A blatant knockdown in the 6th round was ignored. Reid was harshly deducted a point for an accidental headbutt and was a victim of many strange calls. Ottke retained his title on points. He was extremely fortunate to do so. He had many similar nights.

The career of Reid was then seemingly in a state of constantly treading water. There were managerial and promotional disputes and long periods of inactivity which he could ill afford at that stage of his career. At least some of his prime was missed.

He beat Brian Magee for the IBO bauble, but got stopped by Jeff Lacy when he cited his preparation as at least part of the reason for his demise to the American who at the time was forming a fearsome reputation. Calzaghe changed everything on that score. Reid was 34 when he was stopped for the first time in his career by Lacy. There looked to be no way back despite Reid saying. “I’ll be back, don’t you worry.”

Reid took a late-notice fight with Carl Froch in 2007 and was stopped in five rounds, and that looked like the end. Even Reid thought that. The retirement call was made.

But in 2011 and now in his forties, Reid was enticed back into the ring. He got a stoppage win in February against Jamie Ambler but lost a three-round decision on a Prizefighter show in Liverpool to Tobias Wood. But Reid got two wins before getting stopped in five rounds by Kenny Anderson in a fight for the vacant British title. The Scottish fighter failed a drugs test and was banned for two years. The loss somehow stayed on the record of Reid. It changed nothing for the former world champion. Neither Anderson nor Reid fought again. Reid deserved a better ending.

It could and should have been different. Reid could have got the nod over Calzaghe. He should have had his raised against Ottke. But winning and making three successful defences of the WBC super-middleweight title is no mean feat. Throw in that Olympic bronze. Robin Reid should be proud of what he achieved. He shouldn’t be forgotten.

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