LiveWorld Transcripts

Showtime presents

David Reid
Super Welterweight Champion

February 12, 2000

WBA Super Welterweight Champion David Reid chats about his sport and his chances against Felix Trinidad.

Page 1 of 5

Showtime: Welcome to our chat with David Reid, the WBA Super Welterweight Champion. Reid is the only American to capture a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. This talented 26-year-old has already faced three former world champions in only 14 fights. On March 3, he takes on IBF and WBC Welterweight Champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad at Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas. He's here tonight to discuss his upcoming fight plus the live Showtime broadcast of the Tszyu vs. Santos fight, which is currently in progress. Welcome, David, we're glad you're here.

David Reid: Hello, everybody!

Johnson: David, I hear you were a hell raiser as a kid. How old were you when you first took up boxing?

David Reid: I was 11 years old! I got suspended from school from fighting, and my mom got me into boxing. That's how I got started. She told me that I needed to stop fighting in school and take it into boxing.

Billy D: Who was your favorite boxer when you were growing up?

David Reid: Sugar Ray Robinson!

Knock Out: I see you are from Philadelphia. Do you remember seeing any of those old "Rocky" movies? That was in Philly, right?

David Reid: I love your name! Yeah! I remember seeing them all the time. I've seen every one of them. One movie, I think it was "Rocky 2," got me back into boxing because I quit. I've run up the steps a couple of times! It's just a great inspiration watching the "Rocky" movies.

Izgut: What was it like winning the gold medal at the Pan Am games? How did it feel, at that time, to be 'the best'?

David Reid: Winning the Gold Medal in the Pan Am games was one of the greatest feelings because I had one more year before the Olympics. And when I won it, the people in Mar del Plata, Argentina didn't like me. They didn't like me because I was an American that won a gold medal. So they booed me and my flag as it was going up, but winning was the greatest feeling!

Mendelsohn: You've fought in the Olympics. Is there really a big difference in style, such as American boxing vs. European or Cuban?

David Reid: Yes, it's very different. European style always fights straight up, and American boxers fight a little bit bent and come head on. As an amateur, you make a lot of mistakes, but as a professional you can't afford to make any mistakes.

Tito: Would you like to fight Australia's Shannon Taylor?

David Reid: Oh yeah! I would love to. I guess when he comes up in the ranks, I would love to fight him.

Iron: Who do you think is going to win the championship

Gordon: Hello, Champ! How did you score the Trinidad De La Hoya fight?

David Reid: I scored the fight 9 to 3, De La Hoya's way. But Trinidad got his hand free. And I'm glad he got his hand free, because I wouldn't have this opportunity to fight against Trinidad.

Boxingjunkie: What was your greatest accomplishment? Was it winning a gold medal or winning a world title?

David Reid: Winning the Gold Medal! There is no greater feeling than winning the Gold Medal for your country. I wasn't just winning it for myself. I was winning it for the USA, because it was getting over that hump!

Iron: How long have you been boxing?

David Reid: I've been boxing for about 15 years!

Gamer: What do you think of Mike Tyson?

David Reid: I think Mike Tyson is starting at a good pace, right now, and he's getting his confidence back. I think he can win the title one more time as long as he's focused. I've met Tyson, and he's a good guy.

Iron: How many times have you won in your entire career?

David Reid: I won 180 in amateurs, 14 bouts, and about 190 fights including my amateurs.

Mystery Girl: David, are you training differently now than you were for the Olympics? If so, how is it different?

David Reid: Yes I am. As an amateur, you don't have to be as focused. You make a lot of mistakes in the amateurs because you only fight in 3 rounds. As a professional, you can't afford to make mistakes. You have to be more disciplined for 12 rounds. You have to train a whole lot harder, and you have to do a lot more of bag work. You have to eat the right foods. You need a nutritionist. It's so much more serious in professional boxing.

Page 1 of 5