The bout took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada, and was televised by HBO.

[1] Hide was making the first defense of the title he had won from Michael Bentt in a fight that resulted in Bentt suffering career ending injuries while Bowe was trying to find his way back into the world championship picture sixteen months after he lost his place as champion to Evander Holyfield.

After losing his WBA and IBF Heavyweight titles in a 1993 rematch with Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe was forced to go down the comeback trail.

In his first match after losing his titles, Bowe faced Buster Mathis Jr. in August 1994 in Atlantic City.

Bowe was originally going to be disqualified by referee Arthur Mercante Sr., but after discussing it with New Jersey State Boxing Commissioner Larry Hazzard the official decision was handed down as a no-contest.

With virtually no chance of receiving a shot at one of the major titles, Bowe instead decided to challenge undefeated Herbie Hide for the less-regarded WBO Heavyweight Championship.

[3] Despite his undefeated record and status as champion, Hide was given little chance to defeat Bowe and came into the fight as the underdog.

Upon careful review of the replay, it appeared the knockdown was the result of an unintentional rabbit punch from Bowe's forearm, as Hide was lunging in.

After the fight, Bowe embarked on a series of controversial bouts with Andrew Golota and then disappeared from the ring for nearly a decade; he never fought for a world title again.