Spot the difference
Posted: 26 Nov 2003, 11:12
By Anthony Evans of SecondsOut.com:
Jess Harding’s UK Presents Promotions have confirmed Robin Reid will challenge undefeated WBA & IBF super-middleweight champion Sven Ottke in the German’s home territory of the Nuremberg Arena in Nuremberg. The Runcorn born ‘Reaper-Man’ has resurrected his career since losing several title fights in the late 1990s - winning 11 in a row - and believes he is ready to become a two-time world champion.
Reid sees parallels with next month’s fight with his 1996 incursion into Italy when he stopped Vincenzo Nardiello to lift the WBC world title. He said: “When I went out to Italy nobody thought I could do it but I am telling you I did it then and I’m going to do it again on December 13. Ottke’s had a great career and has been an unbelievable champion but his time is past and my time is now.”
Former heavyweight contender turned promoter Harding added: “Opportunities do not come bigger or better timed than this. At 36 and making his 20th defence Ottke is -in my opinion - ready to go and Reid, having won, will find himself at the top of the Super Middleweight pile.”
The sense of destiny felt by Team Reid may well be justified. Reid, 36-3-1 (27), has looked good in recent defences of his lightly regarded WBF belt and has been studiously working on a body assault in preparation for the German champ (“No-one has ever gone to Ottke’s body,” Reid told SecondsOut recently).
Meanwhile, Ottke, 32-0 (6), has struggled this year and there are some who believe he was beaten by not only Byron Mitchell but also David Starie and Mads Larsen in his last three bouts.
Reid, who lost his WBC belt at Christmas Time 1997, could be the right man with the right plan at the right time.
Two other big-name Brits will be travelling to German. Also appearing on the bill are British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Danny Williams who will face West German Ralf Packheiser over eight rounds and British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight Champion Esham Pickering who will box a selected opponent over six rounds.
The BBC will televise on tape delay.
By Nick Peet of the Liverpool Echo:
Robin Reid will challenge undefeated WBA and IBF super-middleweight champion Sven Ottke in the German's home town of Nuremberg on December 13, it was finally confirmed last night. The Runcorn 'Reaper Man' has resurrected his career since losing several title fights in the late 1990s - winning 11 in a row - and believes he is ready to become a two-time world champion.
Reid sees parallels with next month's fight with his 1996 incursion into Italy when he stopped Vincenzo Nardiello to lift the WBC world title.
He said: "When I went out to Italy nobody thought I could do it but I am telling you I did it then and I'm going to do it again on December 13. Ottke's had a great career and has been an unbelievable champion but his time is past and my time is now."
Reid, 36-3-1 (27), has looked good in recent defences of his lightly regarded WBF belt and has been studiously working on a body assault in preparation for the German champ.
"No-one has ever gone to Ottke's body," Reid admitted recently.
Meanwhile, Ottke, 32-0 (6), has struggled this year and there are some who believe he was beaten by not only Byron Mitchell but also David Starie and Mads Larsen in his last three bouts.
The BBC will televise on tape delay.
Get the feeling Nick Peet is copying SecondsOut? The trouble with copying someone is you copy their mistakes. Reid is on a winning run of 10. Not 11.
Jess Harding’s UK Presents Promotions have confirmed Robin Reid will challenge undefeated WBA & IBF super-middleweight champion Sven Ottke in the German’s home territory of the Nuremberg Arena in Nuremberg. The Runcorn born ‘Reaper-Man’ has resurrected his career since losing several title fights in the late 1990s - winning 11 in a row - and believes he is ready to become a two-time world champion.
Reid sees parallels with next month’s fight with his 1996 incursion into Italy when he stopped Vincenzo Nardiello to lift the WBC world title. He said: “When I went out to Italy nobody thought I could do it but I am telling you I did it then and I’m going to do it again on December 13. Ottke’s had a great career and has been an unbelievable champion but his time is past and my time is now.”
Former heavyweight contender turned promoter Harding added: “Opportunities do not come bigger or better timed than this. At 36 and making his 20th defence Ottke is -in my opinion - ready to go and Reid, having won, will find himself at the top of the Super Middleweight pile.”
The sense of destiny felt by Team Reid may well be justified. Reid, 36-3-1 (27), has looked good in recent defences of his lightly regarded WBF belt and has been studiously working on a body assault in preparation for the German champ (“No-one has ever gone to Ottke’s body,” Reid told SecondsOut recently).
Meanwhile, Ottke, 32-0 (6), has struggled this year and there are some who believe he was beaten by not only Byron Mitchell but also David Starie and Mads Larsen in his last three bouts.
Reid, who lost his WBC belt at Christmas Time 1997, could be the right man with the right plan at the right time.
Two other big-name Brits will be travelling to German. Also appearing on the bill are British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Danny Williams who will face West German Ralf Packheiser over eight rounds and British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight Champion Esham Pickering who will box a selected opponent over six rounds.
The BBC will televise on tape delay.
By Nick Peet of the Liverpool Echo:
Robin Reid will challenge undefeated WBA and IBF super-middleweight champion Sven Ottke in the German's home town of Nuremberg on December 13, it was finally confirmed last night. The Runcorn 'Reaper Man' has resurrected his career since losing several title fights in the late 1990s - winning 11 in a row - and believes he is ready to become a two-time world champion.
Reid sees parallels with next month's fight with his 1996 incursion into Italy when he stopped Vincenzo Nardiello to lift the WBC world title.
He said: "When I went out to Italy nobody thought I could do it but I am telling you I did it then and I'm going to do it again on December 13. Ottke's had a great career and has been an unbelievable champion but his time is past and my time is now."
Reid, 36-3-1 (27), has looked good in recent defences of his lightly regarded WBF belt and has been studiously working on a body assault in preparation for the German champ.
"No-one has ever gone to Ottke's body," Reid admitted recently.
Meanwhile, Ottke, 32-0 (6), has struggled this year and there are some who believe he was beaten by not only Byron Mitchell but also David Starie and Mads Larsen in his last three bouts.
The BBC will televise on tape delay.
Get the feeling Nick Peet is copying SecondsOut? The trouble with copying someone is you copy their mistakes. Reid is on a winning run of 10. Not 11.
