Chris Eubank: The road to Watson II The super-middleweights part 4 This content is protected Chris Eubank and Michael Watson were set to fight again at White Hart Lane in Tottenham for the WBO super-middleweight title - their championship saga again illustrating the machinations at the heart of modern boxing. The comparative mediocrity of their Earls court bout stemmed from the difficulty they both experienced in making the middleweight limit. Hugh McIlvanney suggested that Watson 'gave the impression that it would be difficult to lose any appreciable weight without the assistance of a carpenter blade. Eubank, being more strongly muscled, complained of the dehydration which had set in during the fight after months of struggle with his scales. There was no option for either fighter but to move up another division. It was unprecedented, however, for two boxers to climb a weight section and instantly be offered a title fight. But, with the WBO's super-middleweight title vacant. Barry Hearn's boxers were ushered to the head of the queue. The organisation's first - and second-ranked fighters in that division were dropped from the rankings altogether - even though they had waited months for their title chance and had suffered no interm defeats. The WBO, whose hilarious slogan was 'Dignity, Honesty and Respect, Were unable to justify their reasoning - beyond the unspoken truth that they were almost entirely dependent on the money supplied by British promoters who were less sceptical of the fledgling organisation than their American counterparts. ITV's fight audience of 16, 000, 000 people ignored such intricacies. Boxing's political gambits were complex and dreary. A bloody match for a world title between two British fighters who held a grudge against each other was compelling. The mood of the Eubank-Watson rematch was emphasised by the final press conference a few days before the fight. A new peak of malice was reached. Watson reiterated that he had been 'robbed' in their previous fight - to which Eubank responded with an accusation that his opponent was 'an idiot'. He turned to Watson and scoffed, 'You lost the last fight and you'll lose again. You're a loser - go and ask you bank manager.' Watson, setting aside 'The Force' of Jesus, believed belittled the champion's lisp and flowery accent Eubank stormed out, vowing vengeance. It all, of course, made headlines the next morning. 'Ring of Hate'; 'This Time its War'; 'A fight to the Finish'. The tabloids had their story - but even they could not have predicted the looming catastrophe. There wee hints of what awaited both men when I spoke to them for the last time before they entered the ring. Holding his head high in parody of boxing's age-old conceits of arrogance and nobility. Eubank strode nonchalantly towards me through yet another throng of staring faces and pointing fingers. 'I'm ready for this,' he eventually said, his mind for once not appearing to flip awkwardly through imaginary dictionary. 'For me, Michael Watson is nothing. He is merely transparent. It's true that I have not shown him any respect but then, for a long time, I have also tried not to show him any disrespect. He made things very difficult at the press conference but I have regained my composure. He is solely an obstacle I have to surmount in order to attain a better life for myself. He seems to find my personality repugnant - that's down to him. I don't need to rattle his emotions like he is trying to do with me. But these piffling attempts of hi are not working. He is riling me. Michael Watson has clearly disrespected me and so I feel more animosity than usual. Frankly I don't care for the man...' 'But he looks more determined than ever,' I argued. 'Yes, But his bravery is to his detriment. This time, I know he won't even try to counter-punch. He'll be so much more aggressive. He'll press ahead, he'll be in my face, regardless of the punishment I inflict on him. Eventually, it will be too much for him, the punches will take their toll. But he'll keep coming till he falls. Thats why I'll slaughter him and look exceptional in the process - and I am rarely wrong.' 'So you have no fear of Michael Watson?' 'None.' Watson was only marginally less bullish about his own prospects. 'This is my third title fight; and I'm coming out a winner this time,' he promised. 'This time lucky?' 'This time I won't need any luck. Just wait, you'll see, everything's going to be alright, everything's going to be great once I'm champion. Man, what a party theyll be in north London on Saturday night, what a party...'
Chris Eubank: The road to Watson II 3-3 The super-middleweights part 5 This content is protected By the eighth round Eubank knew he was in trouble...
