A former heavyweight champion and a cruiserweight ruler caused chaos at an exhibition in prison, despite being ordered not to fight back by their coach.
Herbie Hide, a two-time WBO titleholder between 1994 and 1999, visited Doncaster Prison with a group of Brendan Ingle fighters in the past. Former cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson was also in attendance.
Nelson shared the story during an interview with William Hill on the Up Front with Simon Jordan podcast. He explained that Ingle would have him and other established boxers, like Prince Naseem Hamed, spar with inmates.
On some occasions, Nelson sparred with a murderer. Recalling the intense experiences, Nelson told Jordan: “Brendan [Ingle] wanted his fighters to have confidence in themselves.
“He would take us to working men’s clubs, where we sparred with tough individuals. Every Sunday, he would make us spar and forbid us from retaliating if hit. He believed that fighting inexperienced opponents was the ultimate challenge, as you couldn’t predict their moves. Mastering this skill meant victory.”
Not satisfied with just working men’s clubs, Ingle escalated to challenging prisoners.
“He brought us to Doncaster Prison. Fighters like Clifton Mitchell, Herbie Hide, Prince Naseem Hamed, Ryan Rhodes, and Fidel Castro Smith all participated. Each fighter faced eight chosen prisoners and shared stories. Then the inmates introduced themselves.
“The prisoners were prepared and eager to spar. I had to face a murderer from Manchester, a daunting opponent. Despite the novelty, we boxers enjoyed the challenge and didn’t feel the need to boast or intimidate. We knew our worth.”
“During one exhibition, Herbie Hide, a former world heavyweight champion, joined us. In the tense prison environment, where inmates were vocal, Herbie still demanded respect as a champion.
“In the ring with a prisoner, Herbie was instructed not to strike. Despite avoiding punches, he was hit once and retaliated. This sparked chaos as the prisoners reacted aggressively, requiring intervention from the prison officers. Brendan scolded Herbie for breaking the rules.”
Hide, known for his toughness, only suffered four losses in his career due to leaving himself vulnerable. He retired in 2010 after a successful streak but had legal troubles, including a prison sentence in 2013. In a heated situation, Hide would have surely defended himself.
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