Boxing: REID HARBOURS HOPES OF BIG TIME

Robin Reid believes the boxing world is finally going to open up again for him if he can take the IBO super-middleweight title from Brian Magee in the King's Hall, Belfast tonight.

Reid has enjoyed the highs and lows of this most unforgiving of sports, having claimed and lost the WBC title, lost a split decision to Joe Calzaghe and then losing yet another controversial points verdict in an IBF title fight with Germany's Sven Ottke in December.

Throughout it all the Runcorn fighter has maintained an incredible desire to prove he still belongs with the very best and the 33-year-old, adopted as an infant, says that he only has to look to his mother Linda for inspiration.

"I was in a home for six months until I was about three and then I got fostered. Thankfully I only had one home and mum, Linda who I regard as my mum, she has been a real inspiration to me," said Reid.