"Candelo won't make it past 7!"

Boxingtalk.com recently spoke to former USBA Jr. Welterweight champion Teddy “Two Guns” Reid to get his thoughts on his upcoming January 20th, 2006 ESPN match up against former world title challenger J.C. Candelo 26-8-3(18). “I think he is going to come in there and give it all he has got because he lost his last three fights, and as a professional fighter he knows he has to get back in there” he stated. Reid, who has posted 23 wins as a professional, 17 of which never heard the final bell, continued “I am really aiming to out do all three of the last guys that he lost to in his last three fights, by beating him three rounds earlier than Kassim Ouma” then he went on to confidently predict “He won’t get past seven” Read on as he also talks to us about no longer working with longtime trainer Tom Yankello.

RC: Teddy what’s good?
TR: Everything is going all right man getting ready to fight in 20 more days

RC: Why don’t you give us your thought son J.C. Candelo?
TR: He has been it there with the top guys of the Jr. Middleweight division. Winky Wright, Kassim Ouma and (Angel) Hernandez and came up short with two out of the three. But he has heart and he is going to come to fight.

RC: From what I understand you won’t be working with your long time trainer Tom Yankello, why don’t you give us your thoughts on that? And will that affect you in anyway?
TR: No not really, the champ is in me. It doesn’t really matter who works with me. When that bell rings, they climb out of the ring and I’m in there doing the thing. They (trainers) are outside instructing me when I come back to my corner. So no not really, Yankello is a god trainer it is just that this time I am having problems getting down there this time of the year. Tommy Brooks is familiar with the game and he has been at a higher level than I have. So I am looking forward to working with Tommy Brooks.

RC: How has preparation been for this upcoming fight?
TR: its been going good man, I have been working hard I have been doing my runs. It is a New Year and I have to bring the New Year in real good. Candelo may be able to make this a fight; he may put on a good show. But it depends on how long his will is able to keep him in there. I think he is going to come in there and give it all he has got because he lost his last three fights, and as a professional fighter he knows he has to get back in there. I am ranked higher than him so he may come to fight and be in good shape.

RC: Well we know Teddy Reid always go out there looking to end things early, can we expect the same thing in this fight?
TR: Oh most definitely, I am really aiming to out do all three of the last guys that he lost to in his last three fights, by beating him three rounds earlier than Kassim Ouma, and you know Winky Wright didn’t stop him, so I am looking to beat him early.

RC: So in other words Candelo wont make it past seven?
TR: Nah he won’t get past seven.

RC: You have always been regarded as a big puncher, especially when you fought at a lower weight.  How do you feel fighting in your new 154lb frame and do you think you’ll be just as big a puncher?
TR: I have been feeling real good, bigger and stronger at 154lbs. I haven’t been able to show it because of the weigh in. Where (Airway Heights, WA) I fought, my last two fights have been with the same day weigh in, and I think that the same day weigh in affects me to where as I am not able to gain back my strength within the six hour time period. But being that this fight is in Foxwoods where the weigh in is Thursday and I fight Friday, I will have a whole day to get my body back and be ready. So I think that has played a part in my last two fights.

RC: In other words this fight will be the true test to see if you carried that power up with you in weight?
TR: Right, exactly because with the weigh in Thursday and fight Friday you will see a much faster stronger and Teddy Reid. 

RC: Is there anything else you’d like to add in closing?
TR: I’m looking forward to taking this 2006-year hard and strong so I can get a world title shot.

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