OTD in 1994: Herbie Hide Dethrones WBO Champion Michael Bentt

On Saturday, March 19, 1994, Undefeated Herbie “The Dancing Destroyer” Hide challenged WBO heavyweight champion Michael Bentt for Bentt‘s title at The New Den, London, England. The build-up to the fight saw an ugly altercation at a photoshoot just eight days before the fight.

Revisiting Herbie Hide vs. Michael Bentt

Trouble Before Fight Night

Eight days before fight night, Hide and Bentt went toe-to-toe outside the Sheraton Park Tower Hotel in London. The scrap made global news and left both fighters with cuts and bruises and the reputation of boxing in the gutter. This pre-fight photoshoot altercation ensured tensions were high when fight night arrived. Hide came into the bout having defeated American Jeff Lampkin by second-round TKO – while Bentt stunned Tommy Morrison by first-round TKO in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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“The Dancing Destroyer” was first to the punch from the start of the fight, with his power seemingly affecting Bentt. He was known for throwing every punch with venom, and this fight was no different as he knocked down his opponent in the third round. 

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The London born fighter tried to get a foothold in round seven – but fell victim to an aggressive, heavy combination from Hide that sent him crashing to the canvas, with the referee quickly waving off the fight, with Bentt unable to continue. The knockout was a reflection of Hide’s dominance, with his opponent subsequently hospitalised and unable to fight again.

Herbie Hide Career Recapped

Following the win against Bentt, Hide boxed Riddick Bowe and was boxing well, but Bowe soon got a foothold in the fight, and his power and class soon shone through as he floored “The Dancing Destroyer” six times before winning by KO in round six. The Nigerian-born Brit won back the WBO strap against Tony Tucker on June 28 1997, before losing it to Vitali Klitschko two years later. Hide’s last professional bout was at the York Hall against Wayne Brooks in the Prizefighter 11 cruiserweight quarter-final, which he won. He later withdrew from the competition following a bad cut sustained in the clash against Brooks.