By Ben Dirs

Suddenly, Robin Reid's previously incongruous nickname seems perfectly apt.

Reid has 37 wins, four losses and one draw from 42 fights

Like some horror-film monster, 'The Grim Reaper' came back from the dead in Belfast on Saturday to scythe down local hero Brian Magee and keep himself alive for a few more scenes.

Stirring stuff from a fighter who looked down and out after losing a dubious points decision to Germany's Sven Ottke in Nuremberg last December.

Since landing a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Reid's career has followed a curious route, sometimes splendorous, often meandering.

When he bested Vincenzo Nardiello in 1996 to claim the WBC super middleweight crown and join the short list of Britons to have won a major world title in Italy, a glittering future seemed inevitable.

But while major world titles are like hens' teeth in British boxing today, Reid's reign coincided with the peak years of Naseem Hamed and Lennox Lewis and the Runcorn fighter's three defences were barely acknowledged by the mainstream press.

South Africa's Sugar Boy Malinga nicked his crown in December 1997 and, following a contentious loss to Wales' WBO titlist Joe Calzaghe in 1999, Reid went to ground for a year.

The Calzaghe loss took the wind out of Reid's sails to such an extent that he even made a foray into the adult movie market - exercise of a kind, but hardly conditioning for top-class boxing.

After an uninspiring comeback loss to Silvio Bronco at Hampden Park, Reid seemed happy to mix in more modest circles, winning the fringe WBF belt and looking like a man about to run out of steam at any moment.

REID FACT FILE Born: 19/02/1971 Turned pro: 27/02/1993 Division: Super middleweight Record: 37(27)-4-1 Style: Orthodox Alias: The Grim Reaper Trainer: Brian Hughes Manager: Jess Harding

Then came the charmed Ottke, IBF champion at the time and a fighter who had more lives than a cat during his controversial career.

Rather predictably, Ottke took the decision and Reid's career seemed over. "At least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed people," said Reid after the fight.

But when Ottke retired and Calzaghe decided to step up a weight, the 168lb division suddenly became rather a desolate place.

Reid, now 33, must now fancy his chances of winning another world crown.

"I believe the division is opening up for me," said Reid after his win over Magee. "I think that fight was really an eliminator for the WBA title so let's get it on now."

Reid's promoter Jess Harding realises his charge is running out of time and wants to set up a home bout with either WBA champion Manny Siaca or newly-crowned WBC champion Cristian Sanavia - both honest but beatable foes.

And with Naseem and Lewis out of the way, Reid could be looking forward to an Indian summer with no-one blocking his view of the sun this time around.