Vincenzo Nardiello vs Robin Reid

With only one second remaining in the seventh round, the WBC super-middleweight championship changed hands in the champion’s own country. Robin Reid, an unbeaten English challenger making his first attempt at a world title, forced the stoppage of Vincenzo Nardiello at 2 minutes 59 seconds at the Forum in Assago, near Milan, on October 12, 1996. The result made Reid Britain’s latest world champion and ended Nardiello’s reign at its first defence.

Nardiello had waited through three unsuccessful world-title challenges before defeating Thulani Malinga by split decision at Manchester’s NYNEX Arena three months earlier. The Italian southpaw returned home with a record of 30 wins and five defeats, carrying considerably more championship experience than his challenger. Reid, a bronze medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, had won 21 professional contests and drawn one. He had been brought along steadily rather than hurriedly, but his measured manner, straight punching and physical strength had established him as a serious contender.

The early stages were controlled and tactical. Nardiello worked from his southpaw position, seeking to establish his right jab and create an opening for the straight left. Reid remained compact, keeping his gloves high and declining to rush after the champion. The Englishman’s balance allowed him to step within range, deliver his punches and withdraw without leaving his feet behind. Nardiello possessed the quicker, more fluid movement, but Reid’s work was direct and economical. There were no knockdowns and no serious foul play to disturb the contest.

As the fight moved through the middle rounds, Reid became more assertive. He began closing the distance behind his jab and making Nardiello work at a less comfortable range. The champion attempted to use angles and turn away after punching, but Reid continued to advance without becoming careless. His greater strength was increasingly apparent when the pair came together, while his orthodox right hand presented a constant threat against the southpaw. Nardiello remained competitive, yet he was being required to expend more effort to preserve his preferred distance.

By the seventh, the challenger was applying the heavier pressure. Reid followed the champion closely and increased his output, preventing Nardiello from settling long enough to regain control. Under sustained attack late in the round, the Italian’s defence ceased to provide sufficient protection, and he was no longer returning effectively. The intervention came at 2:59, immediately before the bell, with Nardiello still exposed to further punishment. The official result was a seventh-round technical knockout.

It was a disciplined victory rather than a fortunate blow. Reid had travelled to Italy, allowed the champion no easy early target and gradually imposed his strength and straighter punching. He returned to England with the WBC title and an unbeaten record of 22 wins and one draw. Nardiello, who had captured the championship abroad, surrendered it on home ground after a reign lasting 98 days. Reid subsequently defended the belt against Giovanni Pretorius, Henry Wharton and Hacine Cherifi before losing it to Malinga in December 1997.

Whilst Nardiello will not be remembered as one of the great world champions, he was a clever, experienced southpaw who had already competed at the European and world levels. He had gone abroad to beat Thulani Malinga for the WBC title and was heavily favoured to be too tricky and knowledgeable for a young British challenger making his first world-title attempt. In that respect, I regard Reid’s victory as a big upset.

What impressed me was Reid’s composure. He did not chase Nardiello around trying to prove himself. He kept his shape, worked behind a straight jab and gradually took away the Italian’s room. Against a southpaw, the temptation is to reach with the right hand and fall across your front foot. Reid stayed balanced and made Nardiello work harder with every round.

By the seventh, Reid’s strength and pressure were telling. Nardiello could no longer control the distance, and Reid forced the stoppage with one second left in the round. Winning a world title abroad is never straightforward, particularly for an unbeaten challenger without championship experience. Reid did not receive enough credit for this victory. He went into the champion’s backyard, solved an awkward opponent and finished him.