Many years ago my Dad told me about a Scottish boxer he was on friendly terms with and how a promoter brought an American fighter with an Irish name over and they really played up the Sectarian angle (Scottish Protestants vs Irish Catholics) to create fan interest. He said the American clearly had no idea what he'd gotten himself into as the Scottish guy came out sweating, showing he must have been fired up and shadow-boxing furiously. He said he beat the sh#t out of him. At the time I assumed this must have been some local guy, a 'club' fighter basically. Years later I came across Jim Watt and noticed an American called Sean O'Grady. I asked my Mum about my Dad's friend (my Dad died about 10 years ago) and she was like "Yeah, Jim Watt that was him. I went with your Dad to go see him fight" and I was like "But... he was a world champion" and my Mum was like "Yeah... why who'd you think he was?" Apparently he and my Dad met at work, some type of factory I think. I'm not sure exactly what my Dad was working as at the time, I know he worked at a Ford Plant but I'm not sure if that the one. I'm also not sure if the met in London or Glasgow. I'm guessing it would have been London cause that would have made sense, two Scot expats in London. Anyone know much about Jim Watt? I assume he must have been a full time fighter in his prime so I'm guessing he and my Dad would have met a few years before he became Champ. Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying they were best buddies or anything just that they met at work and were on friendly terms. Anybody know much Jim Watt? Does that Sean O'Grady fight ring a bell with the Catholic\Protestant thing? I just checked and that went 12 rounds so I might have the wrong guy.
My Dad might have been a bit biased... It was a long time ago but I'm sure my Dad gave the impression Watt KO'd the guy so maybe it wasn't O'Grady. Did Watt come out the aggressor from the opening bell.
O'grady cut watt early in that fight but watt was a tough guy and much underrated with a tough chin. the sectarian angle was played up by o'grady's camp, maybe they didn't know watts wife is a catholic.
It's been a while since I've seen the Watt-O'Grady fight but my recollection of it wasn't that O'Grady was beating the **** out if Watt - it was a tough, hard fight for both. Watt did butt O'Grady when cut but the experienced, more mature Watt coped with his cut better than O'Grady coped with his. Another Watt world title fight that had a very political angle was Watt's defence against the Northern Irishman Charlie Nash, my recollection is, on this side of the pond at least, that this was a far more politically charged fight than the Watt-O'Grady contest. I have a lot of time for Jim Watt, a good, hard, old-school champion, good chin, tough, decent boxer, very under-rated because he wasn't flashy and didn't possess a great deal of flair - he got the utmost from his talents. A good role model and seemed like a very nice, down-to-earth intelligent guy. I have fond memories of watching his fights.
Very good fighter. The second best Scottish Lightweight ever. Jim's win over Howard Davis was his best performance,imo.
Watt was definitely a good fighter, tough as nails. He gave a valiant effort losing his title against Arguello and did manage to last the distance, something not a lot of Alexis's opponents did.
Watt vs Arguello was the most non trash talked buildup of any fight you could name. Both fighters gentlemanly qualities impressed the other. I recall Gil Clancy saying in the opening rounds, "Their apologizing while their punching"
Hey, Watt went a hard 15 rds against a guy in Arguello who was absolutely brutal at 135 ... And he did work Howard Davis Jr. (who was favored) pretty good for 15 rds as well. And he was a classy fighter as well...
Sean O'Grady, suffered some horrible cuts in his career. You could always count on O'Grady bleeding, win or lose. Had the bones around his eyes shaved/smoothed to help out, I believe.
well put.:good nash had beaten ken buchanan on a disputed decision which had it gone the other way would have meant a rematch from buchanan beating watt in 73' buchanan was supposed to have hated watt but that was paper bullplop.
Perhaps the Nash fight is the one my Dad was referring to. Of course this is over 15 years ago so I could be confusing 2 separate stories. I wonder if I should try to send Watt an email, ask him if he remembers my Dad? Then again maybe I shouldn't, keep the fantasy alive.