The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between the reduction number and Borel-fixed ideals in all characteristics. Especially it is shown that r(R/I) less than or equal to r(R/I-lex), where I-lex denotes the unique lex-segment ideal whose Hilbert function is equal to that of I. This solves a recent question by Conca. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.