Boxing Betting / Ralph Ellis / 28 April 2010 /

Name a British boxer who's held world titles at both heavy and cruiser weights? David Haye. Right - but there could be another as former WBO heavyweight champ Herbie Hide has dropped down a division. Betfair went to meet the favourite for this week's latest Prizefighter promotion.

Hi Herbie and how's it going?

It's alright, I've been training well. I feel ready for this, I really do. I don't think people understand that I've been living in Germany for the last two-and-a-half years, and I've been fighting as a cruiserweight there. I've been fighting all kinds of people, I've been busy. I'm up for more.

You've had a break, though?

Yeah, it's been six or seven months since my last fight, but the only reason was I was waiting for a world championship chance that I got messed about with, that's why I'm taking this now.

And you published your book in that time?

Yeah, and it went well, I think people liked it. I wanted to put a few things straight about my life.

What do you make of the Prizefighter format. Have you watched the others?

I've not really seen them much, I've got to be honest, I've not seen them on TV, living out in Germany I've not been able to watch it.

It should suit you though. Is it 14 first round knockouts in your career?

I don't count but that's about right. I've always been a quick starter, always started very
early in fights. I punch very hard and I get them on early.

Isn't this a risk, though? You are waiting to meet the winner of Giacobbe Fragomeni and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk for the WBC title.

In boxing everything you do is a risk. To me right now this is very important for me to go and win. I need this before I fight for the world championship. I'm the best cruiserweight in the world so I'm not afraid, I'm ready.

What do you know about Wayne Brooks who you fight first?

You want me to be honest? You know I haven't got a clue. I haven't seen him fight, I don't know anything about Wayne Brooks, except he's the first I've got to meet. Listen, let me tell you he has more to worry about than me.

Even when you were world champion as a heavyweight people said you were more suited to the cruiserweight division. Do you think now they were right?

Yes, I was never a heavyweight really, it was just I could fight big guys. I wasn't afraid of big guys, but to be honest I was never one of them. I'm much more comfortable at this weight. If a heavyweight hits you and misses you the wind will knock you out, you know? He can miss you just a whisper, just the wind will knock you down. This is different. I had a lot of heart. I could stand in front of a heavyweight and punch a heavyweight, and I wasn't worried about it and I had a good reflex, and wasn't scared of no fighter. But this is right for me now.

You had nearly four years out of the ring, is that helping make your career longer now?

I think so, and also I never took punishment in all the fights. You look at Ricky Hatton, he's probably taken more shots in one fight than I had in my whole career. If you are a boxing guy you watch my fights, and you watch Ricky Hatton, and you will know what I mean, and by my career I mean sparring and everything else.

One of your few defeats was against Vitali Klitschko, how do you think David Haye will get on if he can set up that fight?

You want me to be honest again? I don't think he can win against either of the
Klitschkos, Vitali or Wladimir. They are humungous, and they are more difficult than you think. They look as if they are slow but they are not, they have that style, they are frustration, if you look at them you think: 'He's slow, he's big, he's clumsy', but you get in the ring and you find they are not.

Thanks for your time, Herbie, and good luck. We've a free £50 bet for a favourite charity.

With respect to the great Muhammad Ali, that can go to Parkinson's UK - and I'll back myself to win Prizefighter because even if the odds are only [1.77], it's a certain winner.

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