BoxRec

In today's Sun, Herbie Hide calls out new British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Michael Sprott, declaring: "You will have to beat me before you can claim to be the real champ."
Hide sneered at Sprott's win over Williams: "It was a pathetic fight," he said.
This coming from a guy who ducked out of a fight with Williams! What a joke.

It is a bit of a silly quote, I think when peoples memory fades we seem to remember the good things about a persons career. I recommend everyone (whose forgotten) to look at Herbie's record and if you exclude the Vitali and Bowe hammerings, and take into account Michael Bent was never anything and Tony Tucker was a 40 year old who had snorted his prime away years before. You must ask, who has Herbie beaten to make such a claim.

Herbie was a former British champion, beating Michael Murray in the process - Danny beat him in his 5th fight.

I must admit though your right Stu i do think Hide would beat Sprott by KO however i have to admit right now Harrison could just be our top heavyweight.

HH

stujones wrote:It is a bit of a silly quote, I think when peoples memory fades we seem to remember the good things about a persons career. I recommend everyone (whose forgotten) to look at Herbie's record and if you exclude the Vitali and Bowe hammerings, and take into account Michael Bent was never anything and Tony Tucker was a 40 year old who had snorted his prime away years before. You must ask, who has Herbie beaten to make such a claim.

Herbie was a former British champion, beating Michael Murray in the process - Danny beat him in his 5th fight.

Exactly.

Hardhitters11 wrote: Harrison could just be our top heavyweight.

Don't say that....... Please, not the bully.

I believe its Skelton, although I'll wait till Francis before I really boast it on here.

I like Skelton and enjoy atching him fight but for me he is to open and scrappy for a more polished fighter.

I could just see Audley picking him apart and stopping him.

HH

Sorry mate.

Hardhitters11 wrote:I must admit though your right Stu i do think Hide would beat Sprott by KO however i have to admit right now Harrison could just be our top heavyweight.

HH

Wise words

I also agree that Hide would beat Sprott by KO, but after Herbie bigged up a fight with Danny then bottled it, he has lost any mouthing rights.

At least Sprott had the balls to get in the ring with Danny

Agreed my friend..

HH

sprott is there for the taking

I don't like what Hide has just done there........he chickened out of the Danny Williams fight and now wants Sprott after keeping so quiet the past few months when Danny was champ.

He knows Sprott is a very limited fighter (no disrespect) and that he would beat him easily whereas he was worried Williams may have beat him.

Nice easy option for him with Sprott who he would KO big in the early rounds IMO.

HH

Hardhitters11 wrote:I like Skelton and enjoy atching him fight but for me he is to open and scrappy for a more polished fighter.

Yeah, he's still learning but I haven't seen Harrison look all that polished he seems to focus on one different punch for each fight.

Combinations come more naturally to Skelton (IMO). Whilst, Skelton's chin has not be tested. We have all seen big Aud buckle on a few occasions against 15stoners. Skelton I already believe has world class (compared to this generation) punching power.

I can't wait to see Harrison up against a live opponent with ambitions, on Saturdays showing I wouldn't put Danny in that category.

After all the controversy over DW-Sprott, the Long fight hasn't been mentioned at all but I remember watching and thinking Long would make the ideal opponent for AH in his next fight. The come forward pressure style of Long would ask a few questions of AH

Hide thinks if he catches Sprott he'll ko him which is probably right but he's also forgetting that Sprott only needs to catch him half right and he's gone too!!!

Long or Bakhtov the guy who beat him would be good next opponents and i suspect he would beat both but it would allow us to gauge his potential a lot better.

HH

that Bakhtov didn't look like a mug, tough bloke who'll give our British heavies plenty to think about if Frank chucks em in with him. I couldn't see AH stopping him thats for sure

I wonder what the situation is with Audley at present! He said he was returning to this country in the New year, but it's all gone quiet as to his next fight. I know James MacDonnell was trying to get hold of him (not the easiest task in the world), perhaps he might be able to enlighten us.

I am not convince Hide would beat Sprott at all. I think that Sprott would be far less afraid of Hide than he would of Williams, after all, he was only gunshy because he got clobbered senseless last time out.

I think Audley is the most well-rounded heavyweight in the country right now, he is fighting well off the front and back foot now, has a good defence, great shot selection and combination punching, good mobility for a big man, and fast hands. Two question marks remain over his chin and his power against top flight heavyweights, but as we all know, aside from skelton, everyone else in the country has been exposed in at least one of these regards.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Two question marks remain over his chin and his power against top flight heavyweights

Add to that the little matter of how he handles the physical pressure when up against someone much stronger than him. This, I believe (as I have right from the start of his career) is where Audley will be exposed. So far for such a big man he's appeared remarkably easy to push on the back foot at times. If Harrison developes the stamina to cope with this situation when he takes a step up the ladder I'll be amazed.

Wonderful personality though, I'll always say that. I honestly don't think there's a another fighter on the planet who can talk the talk so brilliantly. It's no surprise whatsoever that he's got so many believing in him.

I think this problem might dissapear as Audley's strength and Stamina improve, as they appear to be doing. Maybe not though, and a good point to raise.

Kilburn wrote: Wonderful personality though, I'll always say that. I honestly don't think there's a another fighter on the planet who can talk the talk so brilliantly. It's no surprise whatsoever that he's got so many believing in him.

As soon as he turned pro he was talking the talk, but it has only been recently, after he went to America and put in a couple of good performances, that some people are beginning to back him.

I don't foresee a problem with Audleys stamina, in his first few fights he wasn't in great shape, but he looked comfortable doing 8 rounds with Ratko Draskovic.

Chambers I have no doubt that Audley could shadow box, spar or even outbox a journeyman in a real fight for 12 rounds and look reasonably comfortable doing it.

It's about what happens when he steps up a level, and another and another. It's about what happens when he is not the one controlling the pace of the fight. Lennox Lewis gets away with having repeatedly suspect stamina because he's strong as an ox and can take a guys head off with that right hand. Audley is not in that league physically. IMO there will come a time when those legs will have to carry that 18st frame on the back foot for 12 rounds if Harrison is to avoid being broken down. Is it possible? Not from what I've seen.

But don't ever get me wrong. I will be delighted if Audley backs it all up and proves me wrong. No make that ecstatic.

I agree that there are alot of unanswered questions surrounding Audley, stamina being one of them, but I have seen no evidence to suggest that when he moves up he will lack stamina.

The next boxer to catch Herbie cleanly will knock him out... his chin isn't so much made of glass as cardboard!....

i think herbie beats sprott and williams with his speed and power. but i wouldn't rule out a punch landing on that chin of his and it sending him into la la land

don't forget hide's power at domestic level is well proven and concussive its not to be under estimated.

Audley is Defo' the Top guy in Britain now. Unlless someone puts up the money he wont fight any of these guys,Sprott,Skelton or Hide.Business first for Audley,he does'nt care what the public think.
Still,We'll all laugh like #@$* when he gets chinned !