World title shot means Reid is on the rebound

Robin Reid is under pressure to perform when he challenges for a second super-middleweight world championship at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre tonight.

Not only is Reid on the rebound after successive defeats against Joe Calzaghe and Silvio Branco, the former World Boxing Council title holder also knows that an impressive display against American Ron Martinez could help re-establish boxing as a top attraction on terrestrial television.

At least three million viewers are expected to tune in to a recording of 29-year-old Reid's clash against Martinez for the vacant World Boxing Federation championship on BBC1's Grandstand tomorrow.

Such a large audience would be 10 times that which watched the Sky broadcast of Reid's stinker against Branco on the undercard to Mike Tyson's controversial demolition of Lou Savarese in Glasgow nearly six months ago.

Reid, one of the great characters of British boxing, smiled as he recalled: "A lot of people know I lost that one, but luckily for me not that many paid to watch it on Sky so they don't know how badly I fought.

"So, as far as I am concerned, this is a new beginning for me. A lot of people will be watching on BBC who haven't seen me before and it is up to me to turn it on for them.

"I am going to rise to the occasion, not just for me but for the good of boxing in general.

"Don't get me wrong, Sky have put a lot of money into British boxing and they have been great supporters of our sport.

"But theirs is a very select audience. It is very important for the future of boxing that we do the business on terrestrial television so that more people can see what we have to offer.

"I want people to watch me against Martinez and say, 'Hey, that kid can box.' Then they'll want to come back for more."