Michael Bentt 11–1 (6 KO) vs. Herbie Hide 25–0 (24 KO) was a professional boxing match contested on 19 March 1994, for the WBO heavyweight title.

Bentt, in only his 12th professional fight and virtually unknown, scored an upset first-round knockout victory over the heavily favored Tommy Morrison, making him the new WBO heavyweight champion in the process. Bentt’s first defence was announced to take place in London. Bentt who had been born in London but raised in New York City championed his British heritage exclaiming to be as British as “Bruno, Lewis or Thatcher.” Bentt and his team narrowed his potential opponents to British fighters Lennox Lewis and Herbie Hide, with Bentt also receiving a big money offer to face George Foreman. While Bentt stated he preferred Foreman or Lewis, he was unable to reach an agreement with either fighter and Hide was ultimately picked as his opponent.

A memorable altercation occurred two months before the fight. On 10 January 1994, Bentt and Hide were at a press conference at the Sheraton Park Tower Hotel in London to promote the fight. Hide, who had taken exception to Bentt calling himself British, caused an uproar when he knocked a baseball cap off Bentt’s head, leading to Bentt to retaliate by throwing a punch that sent Hide down. Hide and Bentt then wrestled each other in a puddle before they were broken up. Hide complained to the media afterward “It goes to show what hooligans we have in boxing. He’s a nut. He can’t take criticism. He hit me for no reason at all.” Said Bentt about the incident “He compromised my manhood. No man is going to lay his hands on me. I don’t regret it. I’m a man first and a boxer second. Nobody attempts to belittle me.” Two days later, Bentt had a change of heart and apologized for his role in the brawl stating “I want to apologize this morning to all the people of Britain. I let boxing down. I let myself down. I let my faith down because of my behaviour with Herbie Hide. “All I remember is him coming at me. He pulled my Millwall cap off, but I thought he was about to attack me. That’s why I hit out. There was no malice, there was nothing personal about it at all.” Because of the brawl, both Bentt and Hide were fined $14,800 by the British Boxing Board of Control.

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