REID APPEAL DELAYED (From Warrington Guardian)

REID APPEAL DELAYED

ROBIN Reid's appeal hearing with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) over his controversial defeat to Sven Ottke has been delayed.

The Runcorn supermiddleweight appeared to be on the wrong end of some of the worst refereeing, and eventual result, in his bout with the joint IBF/WBA champion in Nuremberg on December 13.

Reid was constantly harassed by referee Roger Tillerman who, bizarrely, appeared to warn him for throwing punches, the New Jersey-based organisation were set to make a decision regarding a re-match by last Thursday.

That deadline passed and Reid and his promoter, Jess Harding, who between them have had to fork out $10,000 just to get the hearing underway, were told to wait until today for a final decision but a decision has yet to be made.

Controversy surrounds the fight, which saw Ottke made the 21st defence of his titles on home soil once more, after it emerged referee Tillerman, had very little refereeing experience prior to the fight.

Among the accusations levelled at Tillerman are that he not only deducted a point from Reid for a non-existent headbutt, but also refused to recognise a legitimate knockdown scored by the Merseysider, was handed the opportunity to officiate a double world title fight of this nature has become a matter of debate and another block on which Reid has built his appeal.

"It was a disgrace what happened out there," said Reid.

"At least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed people.

"I know the old saying that you have to knock a man out to win in Germany but that was just ridiculous. I was getting warnings for throwing punches in that ring. This appeal will prove whether or not the IBF are a fair and just organisation or not."