Boxing: Hide's hopes are high

BARRY HEARN remains hopeful that Herbie Hide will fight for the World Boxing Organisation version of the world heavyweight title at London's Olympia in March.

The 22-year-old British champion from Norwich stretched his unbeaten record to 25 with an easy second- round victory over the uninterested American Jeff Lampkin in Sun City, Bophuthatswana, on Saturday.

Lampkin, a shadow of the man who took Glenn McCrory's International Boxing Federation cruiserweight crown in 1990, admitted afterwards he had trained for only two days for what was Hide's second defence of the World Boxing Council's international title.

Hide, looking ahead to the possible challenge to the Dulwich-born American Michael Bentt in three months' time, said: 'When I fight him you will see the real Herbie Hide. I need a better class of opponent to bring out the best in me.'

The one worrying moment for Hide came after the bell to end the first round when he knocked Lampkin down for a second time with a left hook. Lampkin got up, though, and all that happened was that Hide had a point deducted from his score.

Lampkin was pushed to the floor at the start of the second, but it was a flurry of punches that put him down again and, as he struggled to climb off the canvas, he was counted out. It was Hide's 24th win inside the distance.