He seemed like a fine fighter, was a massive lad @ MW and had the world at his feet until that fateful night... How would he have fared against the likes of... Nunn Toney Jackson G-Man Collins Graham Barkley Kalambay The MW Division around the time Michael should have been entering his prime was smoking hot. How would he have fared? Domestic king or world champion in some capacity?
Watson was a very skillful fighter and the fights he had with Benn and Eubank were excellent. MW division was a very hot division at the time at UK and world level. I think Watson would have certainly beaten Collins.
Watson was a world class fighter who met some fantastic fighters. He gave his all against McCallum and ran him close for long periods before unraveling. He used a peak-a-boo guard and had sound fundamentals and utilized his frame very well. I do often feel the peak-a-boo guard with the gloves opened up to help protect even more of the head actually brought upon him more damage. He loosened up over the years but his main defense was to catch shots on the gloves by parrying or shelling up in the peak-a-boo guard to whether the storm. He had a awkward body language he'd roll his shoulders and move his hands and lean and slide jabs in to head and body and flop right hands in behind. He was a strong and committed fighter with some crafty skills and good fundamentals. I think he'd beat Barkley and Collins but they'd be tough grueling fights. The Graham fight is a epic fight and tough to call but i'd probably favor Graham.
