BOXING promoter Jon Feld insists Marlon Reid can reach the summit the "Marvin Hagler way" - claiming the Swindonian can eventually rise above some of the sport's hottest prospects.

Reid became the latest from the town to turn professional when he signed a three-deal with Feld's World Sports Organisation, with claims from his camp he should gain inspiration from middleweight great Hagler.

Feld revealed 26-year-old Reid is expected to make his professional debut in Swindon in September, but warned he would have to learn his education the "hard way" with trips to some hostile rings around the country.

But Feld was quick to point to Marvellous Marvin Hagler's old reputation of travelling to opponents' backyards to get fights, insisting the next few years would ensure Reid possessed the heart for success.

He said: "If the fights come about we will take them, wherever they are. Marlon will have to get used to fighting anywhere as he tries to get a reputation in the sport.

"Hagler was from Massachusetts yet he went to Philadelphia to get fights and early on did have to handle a couple of defeats.

"We have to do that with Marlon. We have to go after our rights and take our licks because that is what professional boxing is all about.

"He will have a few fights locally each year but we will also take him up north and to London where he may be involved in 50/50 fights. Then it is up to him."

Feld, whose company is based in Bristol, admits they headhunted Reid after seeing his progress to the 2006 ABA final and insists he has the potential to compete for titles in the future.

"Unless you are someone like Amir Khan with amazing potential and signed with someone like Fran Warren, you have to do it the hard way," he said.

"Marlon is probably a tiny bit outside the top two middleweight prospects in the country at the moment and so we believe our way is the best way for him to go forward.

"He will end up a better fighter than a lot of these young prospects because of what he has been through. He may have to take defeats along the way but he will learn from it all."

Feld is co-manager of Bristol boxer Dean Francis and has around 30 fighters on his books, and is confident he can help get Reid the exposure he needs to progress.

He said: "We have shows on Channel Five and Bravo and have just signed a partnership with Frank Maloney so there are TV opportunities.

"Some of these fighters can go to the top TV promoters straight off however the big problem is for someone like Marlon they would only get four fights a year.

"The promoters would normally have a particular bias towards one boxer, like Sports Network and Amir Khan, and their other fighter could struggle to get fights.

"This is like a halfway house and the best route for a lot of boxers just turning professional. We can get them six to eight fights a year and make it more likely for them to get into the big time."