GAVIN REID is aiming to put a frustrating 2008 behind him by winning the English super bantamweight
title.
Reid was out of action for seven months last year as a string of scheduled opponents refused to face
the Redcar tough nut after he knocked out previously unbeaten John Donnelly in May.
The 30-year-old saw a proposed crack at English champion Mark Moran collapse at the final minute and bouts
against former WBA champion Mahyar Monshipour and ex-European king Kiko Martinez even fell by the wayside.
Reid, who did not turn professional until he was 28, returned to action at Eston in January but was well
off the boil and widely outpointed by classy Nicaraguan Bismarck Alfaro over eight rounds.
The defeat was his third to quality opposition - his others coming on short notice against Moran and Canadian
champion Andrew Singh Kooner - in eight bouts.
Despite a lack of experience and finesse, Reid’s trademark fitness and unrelenting style make
him a handful for anyone in the division when he is on form and he has no doubt that he can seize the English belt if he gets
the opportunity.
Moran has reportedly vacated it to challenge Matthew Marsh for the British title on April 17 and Reid is
hoping for an eliminator or to be next in line to fight for the honour.
He told Fightnewz.net: “A perfect year for me would be winning the English title.
“It’s been vacated by Mark Moran because he is challenging Marsh for the British title.
“There is still a British title eliminator out there against Ricky Owen as well and I fancy my chances
against all of them.
“I didn’t get any momentum going last year. Donnelly was in May and I had three build-up fights
of getting up to my peak only to be let down, which didn’t do me any favours.
“Hopefully I can move on this year now and I'm absolutely confident in my ability to win something.”
Reid was offered a match against unbeaten featherweight Akaash Bhatia on March 20 but had to pass after
suffering a left arm infection.
He freely admits he was rusty against talented late replacement Alfaro in his last fight but is refusing
to let the reverse and his lack of activity keep him down.
“With the last one I think I left it all in the gym. I had no jab, I was going for big right hands
and not following anything up," said the self-employed builder and father-of-four.
“But my defeats aren’t to bad lads. Obviously I want to win them all, but
if I get beaten by an idiot it would crush me more.
“I’ve been straight into the dressing room afterwards to shake their hands and wish them all
the best in their career and say hopefully I will meet them again somewhere down the line.
“Two of the lads have gone on to win titles, one is going to challenge for the British title and Bismarck
Alfaro as far as I’m concerned is going to achieve something.
“I don’t mind having defeats on my record. I’d rather be learning and
building a career
than build a record.
“So I don’t let these things get to me. I just want to be in there boxing
decent lads and
I don’t want things falling through."
Reid feels southpaw Moran, who edged him in a four-round war which he took on 24 hours’ notice in
his third bout, will take the British title off Marsh in Leigh.
But he rates his chances of avenging his defeat to the Commonwealth Games medalist in a return and
believes Londoner Marsh is tailor-made for him should they ever tussle.
“I personally think Mark Moran will beat Marsh,” he said.
“Marsh has got an excellent engine but I think Moran has got just that bit more than him.
“He can box and he can fight on the back foot as well as going forward. But when I fought him before
the referee told me after that there was nothing in the rounds and that was on late notice.
“If I get the English title I could defend it against Marsh! I can see myself beating Marsh as well.
“I think he is made for my style. I need people to come forward to me and have a scrap so then I can
have a scrap."
While he is driven by thoughts of a title, Reid is also hoping he gets more preparation time in future if
he has to face a slick operator like Alfaro.
“If I’m going to fight someone who isn’t going to have a scrap I need to see a bit more
of them and I need a bit of notice, because I’m not a boxer.”
