I think Hide’s pretty underrated because his flaws could be an eye sore. I’ve always felt that there was a secret genius behind his style. He would throw combinations from all angles and they were thrown quick, heavy, and in large numbers. I would call his style awkward, unpredictable, and explosive rather than awful. What are your thoughts on Herbie Hide’s skill set?
Bennt and Bowe both said they'd never been hit harder in their career than against Hide. He was a naturally explosive guy with rapid hand speed. His problems were a complete and utter lack of ability to relax in the ring and punch resistance that made Amir Khan look like George Chuvalo. Always good to watch though, win or lose.
Never seen a more nervous and tense fighter in the ring than Herbie Hide, even against Michael Bentt he looked a wide eyed nervous wreck. At HW he had ATG handspeed, serious power and as others have said he could punch from all angles (think he trained at the Brendan Ingle gym so that was probably were it came from) but his defence consisted of leaning back with his chin in the air or clinching, add in his glass jaw and he was always a KO waiting to happen against anyone who could time and clip him.
Trained at Matchroom Gym with Freddie King. Sparred Eubank in 1989 Summer and it was better than any fight you've ever seen according to King.
Suffered from stage fright issues. Looked like a guy standing in front of a firing squad against Bowe who forgot to ask for the blindfold.
Agreed, Gil Clancy said a fighter who can't relax burns energy at twice the normal rate and tires out, added to this is a tense fighter can't take a good shot.
He doesnt really have any quality wins, he clearly hits very hard though. I'd put him about the level of a Pierre Coetzer.
There was some potential there. But it was never fully developed. But yes he had some tools. He was fit, strong, hard punching and could move around more fluidly than given credit for.
To be fair to him, he did have a go at Bowe and in Bowes own words he "Hide" was one punch away from stopping me.