Michale Watson fresh off of fighting Benn, took nearly a year off (don't remember why?) before losing to McCallum. As much as I like McCallum I think Watson fought the wrong plan for Mike. IMO had he fought like he could he very well may have been able to beat Mike...???? Sugar Ray after nearly a 3 year layoff, fought a brilliant fight in moving up in weight and scoring a decision albeit a disputed one (I personally had hagler by 1) against Hagler. I think Michael at this stage had to much for Leonard, and believe he would stop Leonard around 9 rds or so. If Leonard was able to survivie I would take watson on the cards. I think Michael was a tough MW who would contend in most era's and don't feel the same for Leonard. So although he scored a magical decision (3 years is a long time off, to fight Hagler and still earn the decision), I don't feel the same about him. For my money Watson takes him nearly every time!
Sugar Ray Leonard easily. He was an all-time great who gave a great performance against one of the great middleweight champs in Hagler no matter how you scored it. I also saw the Watson-McCallum fight live on ABC and he got taken apart by a very underrated Mike McCallum. Watson was a good, game fighter but he wasn't an all time great like Leonard.
He was schooled by McCallum, but unlike many others, he took the lesson to heart and learned from it, becoming a better fighter from then on out. He was constantly improving throughout his career, up until his fateful rematch with Eubank. However, at that early stage (or any time for my money) he's not coming close to beating McCallum. He tried everything against Mike, and got picked apart and dominated in about as conclusive a fashion as you can be. It wasn't a case of fighting the wrong fight, but rather the wrong fighter. McCallum was simply in a different league.
i agree with Bujia Watson was still learning as a middleweight, and he was a relatively stiff legged fighter at that point, who did his best work when he had someone consistently boxing within range or pressuring. Leonard would be far too mobile and savvy for Watson at that stage of his career.8-4 sort of decision with Watson coming on towards the end as leonard slows down, but is still not able to get enough done.Leonard still had more than enough power to gain respect as well.
