Long road ahead for Reid (From Swindon Advertiser)

Long road ahead for Reid

2:00pm Tuesday 16th June 2009 in

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MARLON Reid is entering a frustrating period for a professional boxer but will not allow impatience or injury to ruin his title aspirations.

As a home favourite, Reid will be one of the best supported boxers at the ‘School^s Out’ pro boxing show at the Oasis on July 24.

The former Walcot amateur has won each of his first three pro bouts and Londoner Emeka Oragui could be victim number four.

But having come through the buzz of his first couple of bouts in the paid ranks, Reid now faces the inevitable prospect of fighting a string of journeymen to help hone his ringcraft before he is in a position to challenge for a belt.

It is a two-year path that every boxer has to tread, but Reid, 25, plans to make the most of every bout en route to greatness.

He said: “This period is a real learning curve for me.

“I’ve got my fourth bout coming up and I’m taking it fight by fight until I step up to a level where I’m ready to fight for a British or Commonwealth title.

“If I can stay fit, I think in maybe 10 to 12 fights time we’ll be looking for a title fight.”

That is the stage his former Walcot teammate Jamie Cox is at, having reached double figures unscathed to be in a position to challenge for a recognised title before the end of the year - possibly even on the ‘School^s Out’ card.

It is a template Reid is loosely following, having been an ABA finalist, like Cox, as an amateur - but this middleweight is determined to succeed on his own terms.

He said: “Of course I can always learn from someone like Jamie because he’s been in the game a bit longer than me.

“But I’m my own person, everyone progresses differently and I’ll do it my own way.”

The rate of Reid’s rise could hinge on his fitness, having been plagued by a hand injury that heavily hampered his amateur progress.Now training professionally in Bristol, Reid admits the old injury remains a concern, but is receiving the best treatment possible.

He added: “I’ve always had trouble with my left hand. Boxing as an amateur with Walcot, it always troubled me.

“But in the pro game we’re working to do things to heal the problem and make sure it doesn’t go wrong again.

“I think that it’s easier to nurse it in the pros because you get looked after more and get that extra bit of attention, so hopefully it won’t be a problem.”

Tickets for the big show can be obtained by calling promter Keith Mayo on 07789 890453.