By Sanjeev Shetty

Hide is a mystery to most boxing observers Hide fracas mars Harrison victory

Herbie Hide is back in the headlines after being at the centre of a ringside brawl at an Audley Harrison fight.

While the boxing world waits to see what action faces the 31-year-old from Norwich, Hide will wonder whether he has a future in the sport.

The fact that boxing's biggest story for weeks involves scenes of violence outside of the ring will not reflect well on the sport.

And given Hide's ability to create controversy, the two-time WBO heavyweight champion may well be seen as a convenient scapegoat if strong action is needed to be taken within boxing.

HERBIE HIDE Born: 27/08/1971 in Nigeria Record: 34 wins, three defeats (33 KOs) Best win: KO7 Michael Bentt (19/3/1994)

Before he fought Londoner Michael Bentt in 1994, Hide engaged his opponent in a street brawl.

In 1999, at a news conference before his fight with Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, Hide lunged at Williams after it was revealed that the British champion had knocked him out in sparring.

And at the weigh-in for his first fight with Chingangu in 2001, Hide disappeared into the Newcastle Metro shopping centre for three hours, before returning to the scales.

There is a softer side to the two-time WBO heavyweight champion - he was very close to his young brother Alan, who died from leukaemia a short time ago.

After suffering his last defeat, to Joesph Chingangu in September 2001, Hide went into hiding in Las Vegas.

He came back with former world champions Mike McCallum and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad as his trainers and Mike Tyson's motivator Steve "Crocodile" Fitch as part of his team.

Former world champion Riddick Bowe said Hide hit him as hard as anyone during his long career, while Williams admits that he has been impressed by Hide's power during their sparring sessions.

But Hide is a fragile force in the ring and prospective opponents know his chin is porous.

Because Hide has aligned himself with promoter Mick Hennessy, there was every chance that fights with Williams and Harrison would take place.