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Home » Ex-world champ Herbie Hide sentenced to nearly two years in prison

Ex-world champ Herbie Hide sentenced to nearly two years in prison

The 42 year-old was jailed for almost two-years, which could have well been more, after the ex-professional fighter fell for a cocaine sting by an undercover reporter for the British tabloids.

Hide, as part of a sting operation, had agreed to supply the drug for ‘Fake Sheikh’ Mazher Mahmood and is now beginning a lengthy stretch behind bars following the sentence handed down by Judge Mark Lucraft QC.

The Nigerian-born Brit last fought in 2010 when defeating the unheralded Wayne Brooks, but was forced to pull out of the Prizefighter tournament on a cut and had threatened several times to return to the ring since then.

Initially a successful cruiserweight, Hide stepped up to the top division to claim the world title in 1994 when ousting Michael Bent, although lost out in his first defence to former great Riddick Bowe a year later.

The talented puncher regained the belt in 1997 with a second round stoppage win over Tony Tucker and went on to defend it twice, until a 1999 defeat to a fresh-faced Vitali Klitschko signalled the end of his hey-day.

This latest episode represents the darkest day of Hide’s notorious life and marks the height of a downward spiral that should be a lesson to any young boxer forging a career in boxing in the future.

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