CHRIS LAKEY Herbie Hide says he is ready to rule the word again - this time at cruiserweight.The 35-year-old paved the way to a title shot with his fourth successive knockout since moving down from the heavyweight ranks - and then announced his belief that a world championship belt will once again be wrapped around his waist.

CHRIS LAKEY

Herbie Hide says he is ready to rule the word again - this time at cruiserweight.

The 35-year-old paved the way to a title shot with his fourth successive knockout since moving down from the heavyweight ranks - and then announced his belief that a world championship belt will once again be wrapped around his waist.

Hide took just one minute and 23 seconds to stop Belarusian Aleh Dubiaha at the Atatürk Spor Salonu arena in Ankara at the weekend - the first professional boxing show in Turkey since 1980.

And while Dubiaha's credentials are ordinary, Hide believes victory was simply another step along the comeback trail.

“I will become undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world,” said Hide.

“This latest win demonstrates the power I have since moving down to cruiserweight, so people back home had better sit up and take notice as this is a serious comeback.”

Back home is the UK, where Hide hasn't fought for more than three years, when his last fight as a heavyweight was ended when he suffered a bad cut above his left eye after a clash of heads against Mindaugas Kulikauskas in Nottingham.

Hide headed to the States to reinvent himself, but had just one fight there before teaming up with Arena Box-Promotions in Germany, with whom he has won his last three outings.

He is clearly being eased back into the world title picture - Dubiaha has just seven wins in 26 fights, having lost his last 10.

However, while his aim is to challenge the likes of David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli, Hide admits he is content to follow the strategy that has been laid out for him in Germany.

“Since signing with Arena Box-Promotions I have been so focused as everything about their set-up is 100pc professional,” said Hide who was a two-time WBO world champion in the 90s.

“I do the boxing and they have the strategy to get me to a world title shot.

“I feel as good as I ever have. Three fights since the end of March has kept me busy, which is something that I haven't done for a very long time, and I can't wait to get back in that ring again.

“Herbie Hide is back in business. Just keep lining the opponents up and I'll knock them out.”

Top of the bill in Ankara was former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall who, at 42 years of age, caused a shock with a unanimous points win over Sinan Samil Sam.

Victory means McCall becomes the mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight title, after Vitali Klitschko fights the winner of the September meeting between champion Oleg Maskaev and Samuel Peter.