Hide fights again in Britain

Herbie Hide will have his first fight in Britain for four years in a non-title eight round bout at the Norfolk Showground in Norwich on Saturday, 4th October. The former world heavyweight champion boxes in an eight-round bout against Aleksejs Kosobokovs (Latvia), who has won two of his last three fights by first round stoppage and went the distance with Willi Fischer (Germany) last year. Hide's comeback is part of the Hennessy Sports bill which includes Jon Thaxton's (Norwich) European Lightweight Title challenge against Juan Carlos Diaz Melero (Spain) as top of the bill and Danny McIntosh (Norwich) versus Steve Spartacus (Ipswich) for the English Light-Heavyweight Title. ITV4 ‘Big Fight Live’ will televise from 8.45pm. Hide suffered a nasty cut in his last fight in Britain, causing the bout against Mindaugas Kulikauskas (Lithuania) to be stopped. Since then, Hide has been based in Germany and dropped down a division to cruiserweight where he has won nine fights back-to-back and claimed the WBC International Title. Hide, 37, is ranked at No 5 by the WBC and is closing in on a shot at the prestigious world title. As he prepares for his big chance to become a two-weight world champion, Hide returns to action in Norwich where he has moved back to. Promoter Mick Hennessy believes Hide can be a force to be reckoned with in the cruiserweight division. "Last time Herbie appeared over here was four years ago on a Hennessy Sports show and he has returned over here on a Hennessy Sports show as I've got an agreement to work on his career going forward with Ahmet Oener off Arena box," said Hennessy. "Herbie is No 5 with the WBC and that rating should improve soon. We are looking to get him a final eliminator for the prestigious WBC world title early next year. "I think he's capable of beating any cruiserweight in the world even at this stage of his career and he is capable of becoming world champion again."Herbie has done very well in Germany. He has been very dedicated and changed his life around. Arena Box have done a great job with him. "Last time he fought here he was unfortunate because his career was picking up and he got a nasty cut which set him back a bit."He is back living in England now and this fight is just to reintroduce him to the UK market. It will also keep him busy because he is in an excellent position to fight for a world title again."He is back living in Norwich and he can see the venue from his house so he is going to walk there on the night. He is very proud to come from Norwich and is very excited to be on this show."