Remembering Herbie Hyde, AKA The Dancing Destroyer
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Between 1989 and 2010, Herbie Hyde, a Nigerian Briton also known as ‘The Dancing Destroyer’ had a professional boxing record of 49-4 with 43 knockouts as a cruiserweight and heavyweight. Hyde is best known for winning the World Boxing Organization version of the world heavyweight title with a seventh round knockout of Michael Bentt in 1994, losing the WBO belt to Riddick Bowe in 1995, then regaining it in with a second round stoppage of Tony Tucker in 1997. Hyde defended the WBO title twice, by defeating Damon Reed and Willi Fischer, before losing his WBO belt to Dr. Vitali Klitschko in 1999.
Hyde won the last 14 bouts of his career, including winning the World Boxing Council International Cruiserweight title by stopping 19-0 Mikhail Masyrov in 2007 and defending the WBC belt three times. Hyde finished his career at York Hall Bethnal Green in London by decisioning Wayne Brooks at age 38.
In November 2013, Hyde, planning a comeback, was convicted in the United Kingdom of conspiracy to sell drugs to a fake sheikh in a sting operation originally designed to expose fixed fights in boxing, and sentenced to 22 months in jail. Hyde is scheduled for release in September 2015. Hyde’s father claims his son has learning difficulties.
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