Boxing: Akinwande expects Hide to avoid challenge

HENRY AKINWANDE and his manager, Mickey Duff, are expecting Herbie Hide, the No 1 contender, to pull out of Akinwande's European title defence early next year. The deadline for purse offers is Monday.

If Hide does withdraw, Akinwande, who stopped the fat Italian, Biagio Chianese, in the fourth round of his first European title defence at the Albert Hall on Wednesday night, will pursue his career in another direction.

'I sat down with him and his manager Barry Hearn, and Hide said he was entitled to more money than Henry, even though he is the European champion,' Duff said. 'That's getting ready for a pull-out.'