AFTER a winter of discontent Robin Reid has a spring in his step again.

The Runcorn Reaperman has put the disappointment of his January appeal fiasco behind him and has undefeated Irishman, Brian Magee, in his sights.

Reid, who failed to win a rematch against German Sven Ottke after appealing to the WBA over the dubious refereeing of the dual-title fight, is back in training and eager to take on Magee for the IBO belt.

He said: "The Ottke fight was frustrating because it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Two major titles were up for grabs and I had serious cause for complaint.

"But it is forgotten about now and I am concentrating on my next full fight, which should be against Magee sometime in July for his IBO title."

Reid, 32, had the opportunity to take on the eighth-ranked Magee next month after his opponent, Dutchman Nordin Ben-Saleh, dropped out with an elbow injury.

But Reid says he didn't want to be anyone's last-minute replacement when a fight against Magee in the summer is already on the cards.

"I want my fight with him to be made as Brian Magee versus Robin Reid not some 'Mickey Mouse' last-minute thing," he said.

"There is no point in de-valuing myself by rushing things.

"Brian Magee is a pretty good boxer but I want an eight-rounder with someone this spring first because my last fight was way back in December".

Magee will pose a threat to Reid as he is unbeaten in 21 fights, and has made six successful defences of his IBO belt.

The Irishman's last fight, in November, ended with an impressive stoppage of former world champion Hassine Cherifi.

Reid successfully defended his WBC title against Cherifi back in September 1996 in a gruelling encounter and will be hoping to pull out all the stops once more for this summer's showdown with Magee.