Boxing: Hide sparks riot as Harrison wins

Herbie Hide caused a ringside riot in Bethnal Green last night after Audley Harrison racked up the 11th win of his career.

Hide, working at the fight at a summariser for the BBC, stood on a chair to taunt Harrison and his supporters after the Olympic champion's second round win over Mathew Ellis.

Hide clearly threw a punch at one fan and a stampede ensued around one side of the ring which had spectators in the packed arena scurrying for cover.

Moments earlier Harrison had grabbed the ring microphone to ask his supporters whether he ought to next meet Hide or Frank Bruno, who was also at ringside.

As the familiar "Bruno" restrains echoed around the venue Hide received boos which made him visibly more demonstrative. He initially became embroiled in a pushing match with some fans, including a woman in the front row.

The row marred a good test for Harrison, who struggled at first before overcoming Ellis after one minute 35 seconds of round two.

Harrison had been given a definite scare by the battling Blackpool man in the opening three minutes before finishing him off in explosive fashion.

A superb left uppercut sent Ellis toppling to the canvas for the first time and although he twice clambered to his feet Harrison produced a clinical finish.

Ellis crashed again to a left hook and when he was bundled over for the third time referee Terry O'Connor wisely waved the contest off.

But Ellis had made light of his two-stone weight disadvantage to give Harrison the toughest test of his professional career.

The Blackpool man, who had fought just once in 14 months and was long past the days when he was touted as one of the hottest prospects in Britain, charged out from the opening bell.

He flung a right hand which made Harrison lose his footing for a while and followed up with a frantic barrage in which more punches connected.

Ellis' supporters acclaimed a definite first-round victory at the sound of the bell.

But Harrison stepped up a gear and finished in a fashion which must have impressed even his staunchest critics.

The controversial Hide has won two comeback fights and is desperate for a crack at the man he constantly derides as "Audrey".

But his career which once carried him to the WBO title has been marred by frequent brushes with the law outside the ring.

Meanwhile the 41-year-old Bruno is also apparently serious about returning for a big-money match with Harrison.

Simon Block, general secretary of British Boxing Board of Control, said: "I said before the show it was not a good idea to have two boxers in such close proximity.

"It was predictable - everything was fine after the contest and the trouble started here at ringside and I'm very, very cross about it.

"I don't know who's to blame but certainly the security wasn't adequate and bringing two fighters together in that situation wasn't advisable.

"Boxers are supposed to be disciplined and tonight at least one of them wasn't. I shall be looking at the video tape to see exactly what happened."

During the melee Hide was seen to push a woman over at ringside as well as swinging a chair.

His controversial cheerleader Steve 'Crocodile' Fitch - a former associate of Mike Tyson - was also involved in the melee, fending off fans before being hit over the head with a chair.

After the fight, Harrison said: "I was very upset. The bottom line is that everyone knows Herbie Hide is a loose cannon.

"This is the Audley Harrison Show, I don't know why Herbie Hide was sitting ringside.

"Herbie Hide has a history of trouble outside the ring - the guy is out of control."