Herbie Hide is ready to return to the ring.

Herbie Hide is set for a surprise return to the boxing ring – in Norwich.

The 40-year-old is set to take on another Norwich boxer, Danny McIntosh this summer.

Local boxing parties are currently involved in talks with various promoters trying to find a suitable date and venue – as well as secure a TV deal for what could prove to be an eliminator for the British cruiserweight title.

If the fight goes ahead it could be a make-or-break event for either man – and most certainly for Hide, who has had a chequered and controversial career inside and outside of the ring.

Hide is a former two-time world heavyweight champion, but he has not stepped into a ring since April, 2010 when he beat Wayne Brooks in the Prizefighter quarter-finals at York Hall, but was then forced to withdraw because of a cut suffered during a clash of heads.

The Nigerian-born Hide has campaigned mainly in Germany since 2007, although he did appear at the Norfolk Showground in October 2008, when he beat Latvian Aleksejs Kosobokovs.

For McIntosh it will mean a step up from the light-heavyweight ranks. The 32-year-old is a former European champion, but was comprehensively beaten by Tony Bellew in a British title challenge in Liverpool last month.

Both men know each other, and while they don’t share the hatred of each other in the way that David Haye and Dereck Chisora do, there is still an edge to a match-up between two outspoken characters.

“Danny is a friend of mine and I have known him since he was a young up-and-coming kid in the gym who I predicted a big future for,” said Hide, who has a record of 49 wins – 43 inside the distance – against just four defeats. “But business is business and it won’t be a problem for me stepping into a ring with him.

“He had a great chance to further his career against Tony Bellew a couple weeks back, but just didn’t perform, so here’s his chance to prove a point and if he can beat me then I will be a big scalp for him to put on his record.

“However, that isn’t going to happen – my experience will be too much for him and even though I’m now on the wrong side of 40, I still have plenty of speed and punching power.”