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."