Mike Reed photos courtesy of Team Reed
by Gautham Nagesh
2013 Stiff Jab Prospect of the Year Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed has signed with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions, joining the likes of Muhammad Ali and Manny Pacquiao.
Reed’s team announced the signing on Thursday, after it had been rumored for weeks. While there are a number of local DMV fighters signed with Golden Boy Promotions and top manager Al Haymon, Reed is one of the few East Coast fighters signed to Top Rank, which focuses mostly on the West Coast and Mexican fighters. The news is proof of what we have said all along: at 21, Reed is the most proven best young boxer in the DMV.
“I am delighted to sign with Top Rank. They’ve been successful for a long time, and have promoted the biggest names in boxing,“ Reed said in a statement. “I am excited to have the same opportunities as the legends that came before me. Top Rank clearly has an understanding of how to market their fighters and they know how to build pay-per-view superstars. Team Reed is looking forward to having a long, successful relationship with one of the most prestigious promotional companies in boxing.”
Reed trains at Dream Team Boxing in Clinton, Md., which is owned by his manager, trainer and father Michael “Buck” Pinson (above). His most recent fight on June 14 was an audition on a Top Rank undercard in Atlantic City, where he knocked down Alberto Morales en route to an easy six-round decision. All of his previous fights had taken place in D.C. and Maryland, mostly on cards promoted by Keystone Boxing.
We were ringside for most of those fights, as Reed ran his record to 10–0 with 6 KOs. More impressively, Reed continually stepped up his competition, and grew into a headliner while notching impressive wins over Ramesis Gil, Bilal Mahasin and Randy Fuentes. The quality of his early wins, combined with his sterling amateur pedigree and the recommendation of Keystone matchmaker Ross Molivinsky was enough to attract the attention of Top Rank.
“Before my son’s pro career even began, our team set a goal that within our first ten fights, we wanted to make a statement. During those ten fights, Michael fought some tough competition, and proved that he is a fan-friendly fighter, with extremely fast hands and power,” Pinson said.
After covering local boxing for almost five years, it’s fair to say Reed is one of my favorite fighters and people in the local boxing scene. He’s not just a great boxer; he’s a decent and impressive young man, one that has juggled both his career and his education while studying accounting at a local community college. Reed may have to put his education on hold, but hopefully that accounting knowledge will help him manage and grow his future wealth.
We will continue to track Reed’s career closely, and wish him all the best. Of course, we knew all along he was destined for great things. Now the rest of the boxing world will get a chance to find out for themselves.
