BOXING: ROBIN Reid hopes history will repeat itself.

He aims to claim the WBA and IBF super-middleweight title on Saturday week - seven years after he first captured a world belt.

And the fight against Sven Ottke on Saturday, December 13, offers plenty to remind Reid of his successful first shot at the division's WBC championship.

It will take place in the German's home town of Nuremberg - a daunting prospect.

But Reid can draw on the experience of the night he claimed the WBC title back in 1996.

He stunned Italian champ Vincenzo Nardiello with a seventh-round knockout in Milan.

Ottke has won all his 32 contests to date and is seen as the world number one - but it's a reputation Reid is out to wreck in front of the BBC TV cameras.

'Whatever Sven Ottke comes at me with, I'll have an answer to,' he said.

'I'm not bothered about it being in Germany, either. My promoter, Jess Harding, said he would try his hardest to get it over here.

'But I told him, let's make it in Germany, as I'm really not bothered.

'No-one gave me a chance in Italy when I beat Nardiello for the WBC title - but I did it then and I'll do it again.'

But WBO champion Joe Calzaghe is angry that Reid has landed the title chance ahead of him.

The Welshman, who has a controversial split-decision victory over Reid behind him, had wanted a unification contest against Ottke.

Calzaghe has pulled out of a mandatory challenge this weekend because of flu.

He had been due to make his 14th WBO defence against Armenia's Mger Mkrtchyan.

Frank Warren, Calzaghe's promoter, has so far not delivered the contest the Cardiff fighter wants against Ottke, Roy Jones Jnr or Bernard Hopkins.

Harding said: 'Opportunities don't come much bigger or better-timed than this. At 36, Ottke is ready to go.'

Ottke's light punching is unlikely to trouble the Runcorn man who, if successful, will seek a unification fight against Calzaghe.

Reid still feels aggrieved that the points decision went against him when they last met in Newcastle in February 1999.

'I want to fight him on equal terms this time,' he said. 'Last time around I fought Calzaghe as the challenger. If he watches the tape often enough like I do, he will see that I beat him.

'On the night I thought it was close but the more I watch the tape, the more I think I beat him by at least two rounds.'

Calzaghe claimed problems with his hands affected him against Reid.