Maryland Boxer Mike Reed Auditions For Top Rank
by Gautham Nagesh
Waldorf, Md. junior welterweight Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed has taken the hard road to 9-0 (6 KOs).
Since turning professional 15 months ago, Reed has fought without a promoter or manager, and has endured tough match-making to become a local headliner for Keystone Boxing. At a time when most prospects are knocking out creampuffs, the 21-year-old Reed has fought quality opposition, and handled everything thrown at him with aplomb. We’ve been ringside for almost all of those fights to witness his steady improvement, which is why we named him our 2013 Prospect of the Year.
Word of Reed’s talent couldn’t help but escape the beltway, and his name eventually found its way to Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman via Keystone matchmaker Ross Molovinsky. One of the oldest and largest promotional outfits in boxing, Top Rank has built an empire in the Southwest, and rarely signs East Coast talent. But Goodman reportedly decided to give Reed a shot, hence his appearance on the undercard of Glenn Tapia vs. Keenan Collins tomorrow night in Atlantic City.
Reed will take on Alberto Morales of Nicaragua in a six-round battle early in the evening. Even for a prospect as proven as Reed, the fight is a real test. Morales is bigger, having campaigned at welterweight and junior middleweight. He has been in with tougher competition than Reed, and has power to boot. Reached by phone Thursday night, Reed said he’s ready for the challenge, and expects Morales to be in his face all night.
“He’s a pressure fighter and this should be a good fight. I’m not going to have to chase him, or find him,” Reed said.
The fight might be the last six-rounder for Reed, who looks poised to make the jump up to eight-round bouts with a win. It will also be Reed’s first fight outside the Capital region, but he’s confident that his long and decorated amateur career (he was our Amateur Boxer of the Year in 2011) has prepared him well for the big stage.
“I won National Golden Gloves [in 2011] and fought in every big tournament there is. The crowd is nothing,” Reed said.
Once the fight starts and his muscle memory kicks in, Reed doesn’t expect the bright lights of Atlantic City to have much effect. Having shown almost preternatural calm in the ring to date, it’s easy to believe Reed when he says he won’t be ruffled or try for the knockout to impress the big names in the audience.
“I’m pretty much going into the fight the same way. Remain safe, use my defense, counter off my defense and I’ll be OK,” Reed said, declining to make a prediction on the outcome.
“It’s always good to get the knockout, but I’m not going in there to try to knock the guy out. If he’s hurt, I’m going to capitalize on it,” Reed said.
Somehow on top of full-time training, Reed has also found time this summer to continue working on a college degree in accounting. You can find him in summer math classes three mornings a week for three hours a day, before he heads to the gym to get his other homework done.
Reed admitted it has become harder to balance his schoolwork with training as he his career progresses, but thus far he has managed to handle both.
“It’s getting a little bit hard, I have to step up my training for each fight to the next level,” Reed said.
As for Top Rank, as of now there is no contract in place for the long-term. Reed remains a free agent, but that could change if Goodman and his bosses are impressed.
“It’s a pleasure, they don’t really sign too many fighters on the East coast…When you’re in demand, that’s always a good sign,” Reed said.
We won’t be in AC, but someone in Reed’s camp will text us the result as soon as the fight is over, so check this space on Saturday night for full results.