(Cuban Olympic heavyweight Odlanier Solis, on right, seen here sparring with Vaughn Bean) 23.04.07 – He’s back! On March 24th the “Dancing Destroyer“ Herbie Hide from Norwich made his debut for Hamburg-based Arena Box-Promotion and impressed all spectators with a first round k.o.-victory. “I want to go back to the top as soon as possible”, states the two time world heavyweight champion (1994 and 1997 to 1999). In his last title bout Vitali Klitschko knocked out Herbie in round 2.
Now Herbert Okechukwu Madumagwu (Hide’s birth name) wants to fight and win titles in cruiserweight division. Herbie: “I have never been a real heavyweight – though I knocked out all of those heavy guys.” Who should be able to stop Herbie when it comes down to cruiserweight and when he keeps on working hard with arena’s head coach Steven Küchler?
(Herbie Hide, training on heavy bag) The “Dancing Destroyer” is convinced that he can geat everybody in his weight class, even World Champion Virgil Hill. “I did sparring with Virgil Hill in Las Vegas, and I beat him up so hard, every time he hears my name, his nose starts bleeding.” Herbie also wants to take on Sauerland’s Marco Huck. “Bring me Marco Huck first and after that Henry Maske and Virgil Hill – I’ll beat up all three guys on my free afternoon.”
“Back to the Top” – that’s not only Herbie’s motto. It counts for the three Cuban Olympic champions as well who are making their pro debuts on April 27th in Hamburg. “We are here to make our way to the top in professional boxing business”, states Heavyweight Odlanier Solis. Yan Barthelemy (Flyweight) and Yuriorkis Gamboa (Featherweight) agree: “We want to become undisputed World Champions.”
All three proved their class in the first rounds of sparring. Two sparring partners were fed up to the back teeth after just one session and left right away back home to Poland. And even former World Heavyweight Championship contender Vaughn Bean had no chance against Solis. Bean who had lost title bouts to Michael Moorer and Evander Holyfield quit sparring after 4 enervating rounds. “Solis stands for a new generation of heavyweight boxing. I am sure that he will make his way to the top very fast.”, states Manager Ahmet Öner.