01.08.06-English Lightweight champion Scott Lawton hopes to be joined by British Masters Light-Welterweight champion Gary Reid who has today been nominated to challenge for the English Light-Welterweight Title. Impact Boxing, who represents North Stafforshire’s two leading pugilists, today revealed that The Midlands Area Council of The British Boxing Board of Control had nominated Reid as the contender for the English Light-Welterweight Title. The nomination will be discussed at the BBBoC’s next meeting..
Lawton won the vacant English Title in June this year and today’s news has come as a massive boost to Impact Boxing who have pledged to bring major titles back to the area. Reid, who regained his British Masters Title at Stoke’s Kings Hall in May, would be pitted against current English Champion, Nigel Wright.
Karl Stubbs of Impact Boxing said:
“The match is guaranteed, it depends on the board’s decision, but Gary has a strong case and we have no doubt that the Midlands Area Council will convey that to the board. Gary, who was linked with a Commonwealth Title bid recently has attracted a lot of attention with two emphatic knockout victories in his last two bouts against highly rated opponents, has now earned the right to challenge for top honours.”
“This announcement is testament to the dedication of both Scott and Gary who, along with every other member of Team Impact, have been working extremely hard over recent months; we are all committed to putting Stoke on the map and to bringing championship boxing to the city. This is just the start of things to come and I hope that people will now sit up and start to take notice of us and that the people of North Staffs continue to give us the fantastic support that have given us in the past.”
Gary Reid was also happy to comment:
“This news couldn’t come at a better time because the last month has been frustrating for me; I’ve been itching to get back into the ring and have been offered two good fights but have had to turn them both down because of a minor shoulder injury. An English Title fight won’t come until later in the year and I will be fit and ready for it. Nigel Wright is an excellent boxer and he recently fought for the British Title so I know he won’t be a pushover but I feel ready to take on anyone. Since I joined Impact Boxing everything has gone great for me and I now get the right advice about everything; I feel very settled and know that I’m now ready to fight for major titles. Scott Lawton is a great example to follow and I just hope that I can emulate his success.”
Hartlepool’s Wright would prove a tough opponent for Reid having won all but two of his 18 bouts. The first of his two defeats came against Kevin MacIntyre who Reid stopped in the sixth round at The Kings Hall in May; his second defeat was on points to Lenny Daws in a British Title clash at York Hall in May. Wright’s most notable victories have come against Dean Hickman, the tough Silence Saheed and a first round stoppage reversal over Kevin MacIntyre last November. At 5’9” Wright has a significant height advantage over Reid (5’5”) but lacks Reid’s punching power. Should the match come off it will be a classic boxer versus puncher contest.