When herbie Hide fought Michael Bent

Hollow Man · Post by **Hollow Man** » 24 Nov 2003, 04:25

After I watched this fight again last week on 5 it jarred an old memory of mine but I cant quite put my finger on it and its annoying me so please help! After the fight did it not come out that there had been something seriously wrong with Michael before the fight & his life could have been in real danger during the fight?
As I say this is a foggy old memory & I may be wrong but I dont think so!

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 24 Nov 2003, 06:03

You're right HM, he shouldn't have fought by the sounds of things. There were rumours flying around during the build up that Bentt had either passed out in the gym or been knocked cold.
They admitted a few days after the fight that something like this had happened ( can't recall which ) and I think he went to hospital after the fight too.
He retired after that - and I hear he's on stage, playing Othello these days...

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 24 Nov 2003, 06:36

Yeah, I think Bentt was forced to retire following this fight - however as MW suggested he's okay (faculty wise). Since his retirement he used to do some of the commentary on the big US fights for Radio Five and even had a part in Ali.

What I heard that Bent was in the middle of fasting, due to religous beliefs, during the build up and when the fight took place. Its was hardly ideal preperations for the fight. This lead to dehydration which caused the problems after the fight.

Its a shame the Britain discarded this world champion. You see all of these charity nights for the likes of Carl Wright which I applaud. However, Bentt do was forced out of his job and I'm sure it must have been hard for him to get work for years after his career. Do you think if he'd spoke with a British accident the BBBoC or PBA would have done something for him?

Hollow Man · Post by **Hollow Man** » 24 Nov 2003, 07:07

MightyWarrior wrote:You're right HM, he shouldn't have fought by the sounds of things. There were rumours flying around during the build up that Bentt had either passed out in the gym or been knocked cold.
They admitted a few days after the fight that something like this had happened ( can't recall which ) and I think he went to hospital after the fight too.
He retired after that - and I hear he's on stage, playing Othello these days...

Thanks for the answer MW. Michael looked awful in that fight but I havent seen enough of him to know if it was a bad performance or if he was just that awful all the time!
Its funny because I remember when I watched that fight first time round I thought it was a great fight. Then when I watched it last week or thereabouts(I am 30 now) It nearly bored me to death!
Its strange how time changes your perception on things

Hollow Man · Post by **Hollow Man** » 24 Nov 2003, 07:13

stujones wrote:Yeah, I think Bentt was forced to retire following this fight - however as MW suggested he's okay (faculty wise). Since his retirement he used to do some of the commentary on the big US fights for Radio Five and even had a part in Ali.

What I heard that Bent was in the middle of fasting, due to religous beliefs, during the build up and when the fight took place. Its was hardly ideal preperations for the fight. This lead to dehydration which caused the problems after the fight.

Its a shame the Britain discarded this world champion. You see all of these charity nights for the likes of Carl Wright which I applaud. However, Bentt do was forced out of his job and I'm sure it must have been hard for him to get work for years after his career. Do you think if he'd spoke with a British accident the BBBoC or PBA would have done something for him?

I never remember hearing about him at all over here before he shocked Tommy Morrison.
No one was interested in him here then, & no one is interested in him now sadly enough. Although it is hard to have too much pity for him after the way he sunk his teeth into poor Herbie

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 24 Nov 2003, 07:20

Bentt was never up to much really - as a heavily hyped amateur I saw his pro debut on tv, with a very excited Emmanuel steward in his corner...then he retired on his stool after one round!

Next fight he came over to the UK in Dec, and took on one of the worst imports we've ever seen - BN headline was "Christmas Turkey"

Of course he did well to blast out a very suprised Tommy Morrison, but Bennt was a one hit wonder if there ever was one.

He was even a slight favorite to beat Hide, but I wasn't too suprised to see Herbie do a number on him.

Hollow Man · Post by **Hollow Man** » 24 Nov 2003, 08:48

MightyWarrior wrote:Bentt was never up to much really - as a heavily hyped amateur I saw his pro debut on tv, with a very excited Emmanuel steward in his corner...then he retired on his stool after one round!

Next fight he came over to the UK in Dec, and took on one of the worst imports we've ever seen - BN headline was "Christmas Turkey".

Nice story MW

Riddick Bowie · Post by **Riddick Bowie** » 24 Nov 2003, 09:49

bentt had yet another balckout on the plane home. had allmanner of brain problems. forced to retire.

herbie won his fake title by beating a novice.

herbie regained his fake title by beating a shot relic.

in a 15 year career herbie has NEVER beaten a ranked heavyweight.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 24 Nov 2003, 10:04

I've just watched the fight again, and here is a brief summing up. Hope you don't mind my elaborating. Hide, at 15st 6lbs, was conceding exactly a stone in weight in the fight. He was cool in the first, jabbing well throughout and ignoring a left hook Bentt threw after the bell to end it (for which Bentt apologised, no doubt aware of the £10,000 he had already lost from his purse due to their infamous pre-fight brawl - both men were fined £10,000). The fight was held outdoors at Millwall FC and Hide was wrapped up in silver foil between rounds. Hide continued to dominate the second with excellent jabs and better movement. Bentt looked slow and cumbersome by comparison. Some of the crowd booed as the champion missed wildly with a right hand. In the third, Herbie nearly pulled off a sensational early win as he nailed the WBO champ with a smashing right uppercut and Bentt half turned away, then went down from two follow-up rights. He was up at eight, looking disconsolate, and Hide pinned him on the ropes with a barrage. Bentt wasn't firing back and referee Paul Thomas appeared about to step in when Bentt kept himself in the fight - just - with a couple of counters. The bell came as a massive relief to Michael.
Hide complained of a low blow early in the fourth, and lost his concentration somewhat. The champ sensed this. He continued to aim for the body and Hide again complained of a low blow, though his greater speed was still apparent in the subsequent exchanges. Bentt did a better job of soaking up the challengers punches on his gloves however, and landed a good left hook late in the round.
Hide got back on top in the fifth, thanks to his jabbing. Bentt seemed to be running out of ideas and tiring, as he trudged after Hide, soaking up jabs, mouth open and bleeding. His frustration showed near the end of the round in a clinch when he bit in to Hide's shoulder and received a stern caution.
Referee Thomas brought them together at the start of the fateful seventh to tell them to cool it. Ironically, Bentt enjoyed a good round as long as it lasted, landing body shots, one or two again slipping low. Then, as you will have seen many times on TV-replays no doubt, Hide nailed the champ with a vicious chopping right, then a quick right and glancing left, that literally belly-flopped Bentt down to the canvas for the full count.
Bentt didn't take a terrible beating. Hide dominated the fight with his quick, powerful attacks, and better lateral movement, but only the knockout itself could be described as a bit worrying. Furthermore, Bentt, stupidly, had fasted from sunrise to sunset in the build-up to the fight due to his Muslim beliefs (the Ramadan), so was hardly in the best physical state all round. He collapsed in his dressing room after the fight and rushed to a local hospital where some bleeding of the brain was discovered. No more boxing for Bentty, who recently appeared opposite Will Smith in that Muhammad Ali move, the title of which escapes me now. Bentt played Sonny Liston.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 24 Nov 2003, 10:22

During his sparring for this fight Bentt was knocked cold by King Soloman.

Remember?

Steve M · Post by **Steve M** » 24 Nov 2003, 17:59

i watched Hide's fight with Bowe again today and the first knockdown was a brutal punch to the back of the head as was another later on in the fight.one or two others Bowe just shoved him to the ground while he was off balance.Bowe looked awful throughout the fight and was backed up badly at one point which lead to him missing with a wild counter and crashing to the ground.

Hollow Man · Post by **Hollow Man** » 24 Nov 2003, 20:11

Thanks for the info lads, you have put my mind at rest!
After hearing all you have all told me in the lead up to the fight I am just surprised that herbie got to him first.
I know the WBO was considered even more of a joke in the States back then of course, but realistically Herbie still must have been bottom of the pile purse-wise for Michael IMO if any other decent American figher had shown an interest