Herbie Hide last night kept up his challenge for a world title in the cruiserweight division with an impressive second round stoppage of Rudiger May in Germany to defend his WBC International title.
The 'Dancing Destroyer' is looking to do the opposite to David Haye and pick up a world title in the cruiserweight division after holding the WBO heavyweight version in the late 1990's; Hide is now unbeaten in his seven fights since making a comeback as a cruiserweight, has never lost at the weight and has stopped all of his opponents when he himself has weighed less than 200lbs, the cruiserweight limit now.
Hide, 36, was stalking the German from the first bell and throwing the wild big shots that have seen him stop 41 of his previous 46 opponents (42 wins). May wasn't in any trouble and he landed himself with a good right and left combination which seemed to galvanise Hide into action and the former Norwich-based Anglo-Nigerian landed with a good left hook and an overhand right which saw the German go down helped on his way with another right. May managed to get to his feet and the bell saved him from an embarrassing first round defeat.
Hide went for the finish in the second while May tried to stem the tide by holding on as much as possible. Herbie's wildness caused him to have a point deducted (it could have been for any of a number of infringements) but it was only a question of time before Hide would land another one of those big shots and when he opened up with a barrage of punches in the corner down went May again and although he got up he staggered and fell into the ropes prompting referee Massimo Barrovecchio to call it off with 1:47 gone of the second round.
Hide, rated at number nine by the WBC and number five by the WBO must now be on the verge of a title shot, some have said maybe against Enzo Maccarinelli but I can't see Sports Network, with or without Frank Warren at the helm (Warren said he would quit the sport if Haye beat Maccarinelli) putting the Swansea man in with another banger like Hide after his defeat to Haye last Saturday.