BOXING: Derek joins Team Reid; HIBS GOAL ACE RIORDAN THROWS HIS SUPPORT BEHIND RISING RING STAR MIKE.

Byline: BY BRIAN DONALD

PROMISING young Scottish boxer Mike Reid was thrilled when one of the country's top football talents vowed to back his bid for glory.

Unbeaten pro light-welterweight Reid will have Hibs scoring sensation Derek Riordan cheering him on in his third contest in the paid ranks at Kirkcaldy Ice Centre on June 11.

The young Edinburgh fighter's landlord, Kevin Murray, is Riordan's cousin and he set up an introduction.

Reid said: 'Derek is a big boxing fan and not only did we hit it off personally, Derek has given me a huge pre-fight boost by telling me he will be at ringside to support me in Kirkcaldy. We call our camp Team Reid and it's great Derek has joined up, 'I can't express what it means to me to know that a Hibs and Scotland star like Derek will be shouting me on to victory.

'It has really fired me up to do well against whoever my manager Tommy Gilmour puts in front of me in the ring in on June 11.'

Riordan said: 'I know how important it is to have a local support behind you when you perform in public.

'Besides, Mike is a guy I like and he told me how important it will be to him that I am there at the ringside on June 11 so I'll be shouting Mike on - hopefully to victory.

'Normally I prefer the heavyweights. I prefer boxing guys who are all-action and power-punchers, like Mike Tyson was at his peak.

'My cousin, Kevin Murray, told me Mike is an all-action fighter too so that's another reason I'll be supporting him at Kirkcaldy.'

However, Riordan might see a slightly different approach from Reid if the fighter's coach, Scott Bambrick, gets his way.

Bambrick said: 'While I agree with Derek about Mike being an all-action, all-out puncher I've been working on making Mike pace himself more.

'He needs to concentrate on trying not to blow guys away inside a round like Mike Tyson used to do but box more for his openings.

'The irony is Mike Reid is a good, very good, technical boxer.

'So we are working on combining the kind of all-action ring style that Derek likes with a calmer, more disciplined approach.

'But we're very much a team. We call ourselves Team Reid and as a Hibees fan myself the fact a Hibs great like Derek is signed up as an honorary ringside member is a massive thrill.

'And it will be a big motivating factor to Mike when that first bell goes in the ring for his bout in Kirkcaldy on June 11.'

Reid, who boxed as an amateur for the same Edinburgh Sparta club as Scottish ring legend Ken Buchanan before joining Gilmour's pro stable, knows the best way to repay all his backers is with a storming display in the ring.

He added: 'The best way I can thank all the members of Team Reid, including my coach Scott, Derek and Kevin, is to win big and that's what I aim to do in Kirkcaldy next month

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PUNCHY: Riordan's a big hit for Hibs