Herbie Hide Speaks Out!
01.06
- This is an official statement by former two-times
WBO heavyweight champion Herbie Hide regarding the events
that took place on Saturday night at the York Hall in
Bethnal Green following Audley Harrison's win over Matthew
Ellis.
Herbie Hide: "Audley Harrison did not want me
at ringside last night. He attempted to have me evicted
on many occasions, even though I was there with the
BBC, and his security team continually targeted me.
"I was actually cheering for Audley to win. I
want to be the first man to beat him, there was no way
I wanted him to get beat. I was only there to promote
a potential fight between us, not to cause trouble.
"After he did win, the BBC wanted him to come
down for an interview with me. He refused because he
knows he would have been put on the spot; the BBC would
have asked him when he was going to fight me but he
is scared of me.
"Instead he tried to belittle me. He tried to
turn the crowd against me by getting Frank Bruno into
the ring and again he tried to have me thrown out.
"Audley Harrison seems to think that can he tell
the BBC what to do and who they can interview or not.
He questions why I was there, but boxers should be allowed
to see their rivals fight - he is welcome to two ringside
tickets for my next fight.
"His security continued to hassle me, despite
the fact that they had other matters to deal with. It
appeared as if they were supposed to be working with
another security team but they were just getting in
each others way and a fight had broken out that had
nothing to do with me or my companions, including Steve
'Crocodile' Fitch.
"As this fight was taking place I stood there
with my arms crossed. I asked the BBC if I should leave,
they said no. The fight got worse. To show that I had
nothing to do with it I stood on a table.
"People started to push me and my cousin got punched
in the mouth - it is still very swollen this morning.
A lady I did not recognise approached me, swearing at
me and pushing me, trying to antagonise me. I did not
respond.
"The pushing continued and then I stumbled off
of the table, badly scraping my leg on the way down.
Whilst I was down a lady kicked me. I decided the best
thing to do was to get out of the venue.
"I stood up to make my way to leave. I had to
push my way out. At no stage did I push anyone intentionally
to the floor.
"As I was leaving I was hit over the back of the
head with a chair three times, I was pushed and my Rolex
watch was smashed. I have the bruises to prove it this
morning.
"Neither did I, at any point, throw a single punch
despite the fact I was continually harangued by Audley's
security team, who seem to believe that they are a law
unto themselves."
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