Boxing: Reid given the runaround

FORMER Sparta boxer Mike Reid's attempted pro comeback after a two-year break was ruined by Iranian opponent Ben Deghani at Glasgow's Thistle Hotel, writes BRIAN DONALD.

Reid had sparred dozens of rounds with ex-WBO super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur at the city's Lochend gym and had Lochend coach Terry McCormack in his corner.

And he started his six-round comeback fight on the undercard of the WBU lightweight title bout between Glaswegian Willie Limond and Londoner Ryan Barret, which Limond won, brightly.

But after just 61 seconds of round two, Reid ran on to a pulverising right hand to the jaw from the tall Iranian that dropped him for an eight count before the referee rightly halted matters, handing Deghani his first pro win at the third attempt.

McCormack said afterwards: "We are gutted as Mike made a confident start before getting careless."