Herbie Hide

Herbie Hide (born Herbert Okechukwu Maduagwu; 27 August 1971) is a British former professional boxer who held the WBO heavyweight title twice. He is best known for his victories over Michael Bentt and Tony Tucker.

Early life

Hide was born in Amauzari, Nigeria, and moved to England as a boy. He was educated at Glebe House School and Cawston College.^[1]

Pro career

Hide has fought for most of his career at heavyweight, but later in his career decided to take a step down to cruiserweight. He is known as The Dancing Destroyer and has had a successful career, rising to domestic success at a very young age for a heavyweight. Hide has twice won the lesser regarded (at the time) WBO heavyweight title.

His career began in 1989 with a second round win and he racked up a total of 25 successive wins, all but one inside the distance. His level of opposition was respectable and included fighters such as Jeff Lampkin, James Pritchard and Everett Martin.

At 25-0 (24 kos), Hide challenged Michael Bentt for the WBO heavyweight title in March 1994 at Millwall Football Stadium, Millwall, London. The inexperienced Bentt had won the title by knocking out the heavily favoured Tommy Morrison in one round. The fight made headlines after the two boxers scuffled and threw punches at a pre-fight meeting, whilst in the bout itself, Hide outboxed and knocked out Bentt in 7 rounds (who was then hospitalised and never fought again).

A year later, Hide defended his title against former undisputed champion Riddick Bowe. Hide used his speed to outbox Bowe early on and managed to hurt Bowe several times during the contest, however Bowe's size and class eventually told, and Hide was floored six times. Hide impressed with his courage, repeatedly picking himself off the canvas, before he was knocked out in the sixth round.^[2]

After his loss to Bowe, Hide fought twice in 1996, winning both by KO against Michael Murray and Frankie Swindell before earning another shot at the now-vacant WBO title in June 1997 against 38-year-old one-time IBF title holder Tony Tucker, despite Tucker losing three of his previous five fights. Hide knocked out the overweight Tucker in two rounds. Hide defended his WBO title twice in 1998 with quick stoppages of late replacement cruiserweight clubfighter Damon Reed, and German Willi Fischer.

In June 1999 Hide faced the 6 ft 8in Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, only the second world ranked fighter he had actually faced after Riddick Bowe. Hide, favoured to win at the time, was knocked out in two rounds.

Hide never featured as a main contender at heavyweight again, his only mildly notable wins coming against Joseph Chingangu (who also knocked Hide out in one of Hide's many comebacks) and Alexander Vasiliev.

In 2006, Hide stepped down a weight division to a more natural weight division at cruiserweight. Since then he has won fourteen successive fights, most of which took place in Germany. Hide defeated Mikhail Nasyrov in December 2007 to win the WBC International cruiserweight title.

In November 2008, when Johnathon Banks dropped out of a WBO cruiserweight title clash at London's ExCel Arena with just four days notice, Hide was announced as a potential opponent for former champion Enzo Maccarinelli, for the vacant title.^[3] This was despite Hide having fought just two weeks earlier, a victory against Lukasz Rusiewicz.^[3] Hide then fought in the Crusierweight Prizefighter tournament. In the tournament, he defeated Welshman Wayne Brooks by unanimous decision, but was badly cut on the right eye in the process. He pulled out of the tournament to avoid losing his high WBC ranking due to the cut.^[4]

Professional boxing record

49 Wins (43 knockouts, 6 decisions), 4 Losses (4 knockouts, 0 decisions)
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Win	49-4-0	Wayne Brooks	UD	3	30 April 2010	Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	Prizefighter Tournament Cruiserweight Quarter-Final. 30-25, 30-25, 30-26.
Win	48-4-0	Gabor "Big Daddy Fisherman" Halasz	TKO	3	26 June 2009	Völklingen, Saarland, Germany	Referee stopped the bout at 2:23 of the third round.
Win	47-4-0	Sandro Siproshvili	UD	8	6 March 2009	Cuxhaven, Niedersachsen, Germany	80-72, 79-73, 80-72.
Win	46-4-0	Lukasz Rusiewicz	UD	6	18 November 2008	Cuxhaven, Niedersachsen, Germany	60-56, 59-56, 60-55.
Win	45-4-0	Aleksejs Kosobokovs	RTD	3	4 October 2008	Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom	Alek could not answer the bell for round four.
Win	44-4-0	Nuri Seferi	UD	12	4 July 2008	Ankara, Turkey	WBC International Cruiserweight Title. 117-111, 119-110, 117-110.
Win	43-4-0	Ehinomen Ehikhamenor	UD	12	30 May 2008	Baracaldo, Pais Vasco, Spain	WBC International Cruiserweight Title. 118-109, 118-109, 117-110.
Win	42-4-0	Ruediger May	TKO	2	11 March 2008	Halle an der Saale, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany	WBC International Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:47 of the second round.
Win	41-4-0	Mikhail Nasyrov	TKO	6	23 December 2007	Halle an der Saale, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany	WBC International Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:30 of the sixth round.
Win	40-4-0	Mircea Telecan	TKO	1	21 September 2007	Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany	Referee stopped the bout at 1:16 of the third round.
Win	39-4-0	Aleh Dubiaha	KO	1	16 June 2007	Ankara, Turkey	Aleh knocked out at 1:23 of the first round.
Win	38-4-0	Pavol Polakovic	KO	6	27 April 2007	Hamburg, Germany	Pavol knocked out at 1:30 of the sixth round.
Win	37-4-0	Valeri Semiskur	KO	1	24 March 2007	Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany	Semiskur knocked out at 2:35 of the first round.
Win	36-4-0	Mitch "Hold My Beer" Hicks	TKO	1	23 September 2006	Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:24 of the first round.
Loss	35-4-0	Mindaugas Kulikauskas	TKO	3	12 March 2004	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the third round.
Win	35-3-0	Alexander Vasiliev	TKO	5	4 October 2003	Wood Green, London, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 1:15 of the fifth round.
Win	34-3-0	Joseph "No Pressure" Chingangu	KO	1	27 May 2003	Dagenham, London, England	Joseph knocked out at 2:33 of the first round.
Win	33-3-0	Derek McCafferty	TKO	7	16 April 2003	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 1:27 of the seventh round.
Loss	32-3-0	Joseph "No Pressure" Chingangu	TKO	2	22 September 2001	Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Win	32-2-0	Alexey Osokin	TKO	3	14 July 2001	Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 1:27 of the seventh round.
Loss	31-2-0	Vitali "Dr. Iron Fist" Klitschko	KO	2	26 June 1999	Millwall, London, United Kingdom	WBO World Heavyweight Title. Hide knocked out at 1:14 of the second round.
Win	31-1-0	Willi "De Ox" Fischer	TKO	2	26 September 1998	Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom	WBO World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:04 of the second round.
Win	30-1-0	"Dangerous" Damon Reed	TKO	1	18 April 1998	Manchester, United Kingdom	WBO World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:52 of the first round.
Win	29-1-0	Tony "TNT" Tucker	TKO	2	28 June 1997	Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom	WBO World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the second round.
Win	28-1-0	Frankie "The Tennessee Stud" Swindell	KO	1	9 November 1996	Manchester, United Kingdom
Win	27-1-0	Michael Murray	TKO	6	6 July 1996	Manchester, United Kingdom
Loss	26-1-0	Riddick "Big Daddy" Bowe	KO	6	11 March 1995	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	WBO World Heavyweight Title. Hide knocked out at 2:25 of the sixth round.
Win	26-0-0	Michael Bentt	KO	7	19 March 1994	Millwall, London, United Kingdom	WBO World Heavyweight Title. Bentt knocked out at 2:50 of the seventh round.
Win	25-0-0	Jeff Lampkin	TKO	2	4 December 1993	Sun City, North West, South Africa	WBC International Heavyweight Title.
Win	24-0-0	Mike "The Duke" Dixon	TKO	9	6 November 1993	Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	WBC International Heavyweight Title.
Win	23-0-0	Everett "Bigfoot" Martin	PTS	10	18 September 1993	Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom	100-94.
Win	22-0-0	Jerry "Wimpy" Halstead	TKO	4	11 May 1993	Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom	WBB World Heavyweight Title.
Win	21-0-0	Michael Murray	TKO	5	27 February 1993	Dagenham, Essex, United Kingdom	BBBofC British Heavyweight Title.
Win	20-0-0	Juan Antonio Diaz	TKO	3	30 January 1993	Brentwood, Essex, United Kingdom	WBA Pentacontinental Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:32 of the third round.
Win	19-0-0	James Pritchard	TKO	2	12 December 1992	Muswell Hill, London, United Kingdom
Win	18-0-0	Craig Petersen	TKO	6	6 October 1992	Antwerpen, Belgium	WBC International Heavyweight Title.
Win	17-0-0	Jean Chanet	TKO	8	8 September 1992	Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Win	16-0-0	Percell "Magic" Davis	KO	1	3 March 1992	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Win	15-0-0	Conroy Nelson	TKO	2	21 January 1992	Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom	WBC International Heavyweight Title.
Win	14-0-0	Chris Jacobs	KO	1	29 October 1991	Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Win	13-0-0	Eddie Gonzales	KO	2	15 October 1991	Hamburg, Germany
Win	12-0-0	Tucker Richards	TKO	3	3 July 1991	Brentwood, Essex, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 2:50 of the third round.
Win	11-0-0	John Westgarth	TKO	4	14 May 1991	Dudley, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Win	10-0-0	David Jules	TKO	1	9 April 1991	Mayfair, London, United Kingdom
Win	9-0-0	Lennie Howard	TKO	1	29 January 1991	Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Win	8-0-0	Steve Lewsam	TKO	1	18 November 1990	Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 2:28 of the first round.
Win	7-0-0	Gus Mendes	KO	2	17 October 1990	Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
Win	6-0-0	Jonjo Greene	TKO	1	26 September 1990	Manchester, United Kingdom
Win	5-0-0	Steve Lewsam	TKO	4	5 September 1990	Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 1:40 of the fourth round.
Win	4-0-0	Alex Penarski	TKO	3	27 June 1990	Kensington, London, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 2:18 of the third round.
Win	3-0-0	Steve "The Green Goblin" Osborne	TKO	6	19 December 1989	Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
Win	2-0-0	Gary McCrory	TKO	1	5 November 1989	Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Win	1-1-0	Lee "L.A." Williams	KO	2	24 October 1989	Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom

Personal life

In December 2003, Hide was "attacked by a group of men" in a Norwich night club. This resulted in his subsequent arrest and conviction for "possession of an offensive weapon, a 10-inch kitchen knife," for which he was fined £750.^[5]

In September 2008, Hide was warned by Norwich magistrates that he faced 75 days in jail if £3,767 of outstanding motoring fines were not paid by 30 November 2008.^[6] During a television interview in July 2008, Hide claimed that promoter Frank Warren "had dishonestly and corruptly bribed Johnny Nelson to retire and give up his WBO cruiserweight title." When Warren sued for libel, Hide failed to respond and a default judgment of £35,000 was entered against him.^[7]

Hide appeared at Norwich Crown Court, charged with rape, but was found not guilty on 20 July 2011 after "the prosecution offered no evidence."^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

On 18 March 2012, a man in his 20s was fatally stabbed at Hide's home. A suspect has been arrested for murder in connection with the incident. Police said they believed Hide was not home at the time of the killing.^[9][13]

On 29 November 2013 Hide was sentenced to 22 months in prison for selling cocaine.^[14] He was targeted by the so-called "fake sheikh" also known as Mazher Mahmood, an undercover News of the World reporter. The reporter ingratiated himself into Hide's company and began hassling him for cocaine, despite the fact that there had never been any suggestion that Hide had been concerned with the supply of drugs. After an initial refusal, Herbie Hide eventually relented, and agreed to contact a drug dealer of his acquaintance to procure the drug. When he delivered the drug to the undercover reporter he was arrested and charged.

See also

• List of current WBC international champions
• List of heavyweight boxing champions

References

Further reading

• Hide, Herbie (2009). Nothing But Trouble: My Story. ISBN 978-1-84454-706-7. 

External links

• Professional boxing record for Herbie Hide from BoxRec