Harrison win is marred by riot
Hide, who was sitting in the front row as pundit for BBC television, was involved in a heated exchange with fans and security men which quickly degenerated into all-out violence.
Hide, who has a history of trouble outside the ring, was at the heart of a melee in which a woman was pushed to the floor, punches were thrown and chairs hurled before the former WBO champion ran out of the hall.
The British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Simon Block immediately announced an inquiry, which marred Harrison’s impressive four minutes and 35 seconds knockout of Blackpool’s Mathew Ellis.
Block, who was also ringside at the sweltering venue, said stony-faced: “I don’t know who is to blame but certainly the security was not adequate and bringing two fighters together in that situation was not advisable.”
Hide, who has won two comeback fights and is angling for a shot at the Olympic champion, reacted after Harrison grabbed the in-ring microphone and asked supporters whether they wanted him to meet the Norwich man or Frank Bruno, who was also at the venue.
As supporters echoed the familiar Bruno refrain, a section of fans sitting inside the inner-ringside security barrier pushed forward to taunt Hide. Members of Harrison’s own A-Force security firm also became involved.
Harrison said: “Herbie Hide has a history of doing these things and I don’t see the sense in having him at ringside. The guy is a powder keg and he is liable to do anything. I am just so disappointed and I want to apologise to my fans.”
Hide made headlines of the wrong kind prior to his 1994 WBO title win in Millwall when he and American opponent Michael Bentt brawled at a press conference in Knightsbridge.
The show’s promoter Jess Harding said he would study video evidence before deciding if he needed to take action himself. But he criticised for the BBC for its last-minute decision to place Hide ringside.
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