There was a poll on the British forum and the view was shared by many of us. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree regarding Watson plodding forward all night and falling short with everything (and Eubank showing his most subtle skill).
I remember that poll. The majority seemed to say a close but clear decision for Eubank, not a schooling atsch
Depends what you class as a schooling. McCallum didn't school Watson - Watson knew what he had to do but didn't have the timing on the night to do it due to ring rust. McCallum didn't school/teach him he just took advantage. Plus, one judge had it 6-4 after 10. I thought Eubank taught Watson a lesson, as he predicted he would. You can't just stand in front of a quick, slick boxer.
Yeah. Can't remember last time I saw an opinion I disagreed with more. Has anyone heard anything from Watson himself on the subject?
Not in a million years. There is a reason he did not fight guys like Nunn, McClellan, Roy Jones, James Toney and McCallum.
Obviously, Watson thought he beat Eubank at the time, and obviously still does. He did state Benn was better than McCallum though: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CX17GLX04Y[/ame]
Eubank wanted McCallum way before he fought Benn. But when they sat down, after Eubank beat Benn, McCallum brought NOTHING to the table - no American TV. Not Eubank's fault.
Eubank says Watson 'out-strengthed, out-fought and out-thought' him in their second fight, and that he gave up in the sixth and his adrenalin stopped, and just decided to take a beating for the last 6-7 rounds.
I've respect for Eubank, since he did the outmost with what he had and he makes no bones about it. But I wouldn't call him great. He just hasn't got the victories and I don't think he looked that fantastic either. He looked good, but not great. Lots of natural ability, guts to high heaven but not skills on the level of the most skillful MWs of his time, and not the physical attributes of guys like Nunn and Jones. He treated us to some great fight, though. Would have liked to see him against the very best of the division, but sadly that wasn't to be.