Michael Watson (in-f'in-credible)

I was just having a look at his resume...

He went EIGHT ROUNDS in his SECOND PRO FIGHT!

I recognize a lot of the names...

Karl Barwise, he dropped and stopped in 3, was hard as nails. Cliff Gilpin, awkward as hell who gave Laing and Honeyghan fits. Ricky Stackhouse, awkward as hell who gave Duran and Graham fits.

He fought a six-round war with hard-hitting Carlton W arren (who was WBC-rated in '88 ), then fought James Cook THIRTEEN DAYS LATER.

At TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD, he was a late substitute in with former world #1 Don Lee, a rangey southpaw switch-hitter and one of the hardest lb4lb punchers. And he dominated and demolished Lee.

Nigel Benn, of course, when Benn was 22-0-0 with 22 KO's and Watson a big underdog. And he put a masterclass on Benn.

Mike McCallum, at his peak, after spending ELEVEN MONTHS out of the ring. Going 11 rounds at fast pace with a legend with one judge having it 6-4 McCallum at two rounds to go.

Errol Christie, one of the most talented fighters, dropped in about 30 seconds and stopped a few rounds later.

Chris Eubank, at his peak, TWICE IN TWELVE WEEKS. And he was winning the rematch on all three cards after 10 rounds before knocking Eubank down for the first legit KD of his life in the 11th, of course.


He was only just turned 26 when tragedy struck, and still improving as his last performance was his best ever. I can't think of hardly any young British fighters matched like that, if any???

 

I know he beat John Beckles in about 30 seconds in '84 in the amateurs, the only other guys to beat Beckles were the best Cubans and best Eastern Europeans (on close points decs). So he always had that pedigree. But Duff wanted to keep him a secret it seemed, because he went FIVE YEARS as a pro before fighting for a title of any kind.

And I know he spent his teenage years sparring Kirkland Laing and Dennis Andries. (If he could hit Laing and hurt Andries, he could hit and hurt anyone.)

Obviously what he's accomplished post-boxing is even greater, by tenfold even.

What a guy.

 

Oh dear, well spotted. Must be a typo, or printo.


Back on-topic:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wehZNh_Cq-k[/ame]

 

I'd have to agree that out of the four of them, Graham, Watson, Eubank, and Benn; Watson was the best technician. Graham had next to no fundamentals, Benn threw most of his punches off-balance and Eubank was off-balance if he missed. Watson was fundamentally sound, threw punches from a very firm stance and was always in position to throw after throwing.

He could move forward without being hit (always the sign of a good fighter) and couldn't ever seem to miss the short overarm right punch, leaning off with it. In fact almost all of his KD's/KO's as amateur and pro came from that punch.

And a very smooth operator, brilliant tucked defense, stiff and awkward but neat boxing. He was a fighter who would counter in combinations, too, a rariety.

 

Tim Williams, Miller, Logan and Noel were all prospects on the world scene themselves and much more experienced than Benn. They all went crashing over.

People forget that.

Also Rod Douglas, back in the days amateur fights were like pro fights, ie three-minute rounds with no computer scoring, no headgear. Douglas had only lost to the world #1 (Shawn O'Sullivan) at the Olympics... Benn crashed him.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-PWQq28Ouo[/ame]

 

Lupe Aquino and Bobbie Joe Young were very good fighters, the guys Noel lost on close pts before Benn. Tim Williams drew Robbie Sims and beat Alex Ramos, he was no slouch.