Groves was getting under DeGale's skin in a similar way to Eubank getting under Watson's before their first fight
Beckles was dead at the weight and boy oh boy did Michael Watson make him pay, that should have been an ABA Final and it was just a contest in the London Finals...:good Michael Watson was something to behold...:deal
Nah, I think Groves knew what he was doing. It was pretty subtle, just sarcastic little gags and stuff. The only way he could have played it better was doing the Hatton ''I don't think you've got nowt to worry about James.... I'm a glass jawed joke that's only here for a payday'' line, but by doing that he'd risk looking daft.
Well, I was completely unsure at the time. I was expecting anything - I had no idea who would win but I suspected Watson was being underestimated when Benn was favourite, and I was supporting Watson. It was no foregone conclusion, one way or the other - that's why it was such a big fight. Lots of people obviously thought Benn would win, people who watched boxing. And I understand that reasoning. Benn's power was still probably going to be a troubling factor, against Watson or anyone else. With that sort of power and undefeated he cannot be written off. Maybe if it had been as clued-up as you the fight wouldn't have been as exciting ! :good
I know it comes across as arrogance, but I would say them in the know stuck the mortgage on Watson, there was simply no way a Benn, as limited as he was at the time was going to win. But as mentioned the Tyson phenomenon was around at the time, thus there had to a British version, as Britain could not stand alone, we had to be up America's arse hole... And Benn was cursed with it... I am no genius, and for every Watson/Benn; I looked pretty stupid picking Spinks over Tyson or Bruno over Tyson (in the rematch)...
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wehZNh_Cq-k[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7jJgQw6i2M&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wyCWkZ_9Vk&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U-AosaN0ik&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0dp0oGqfvM&feature=related[/ame]
Rubbish, he was (at the time) a face first brawler who banged and showed a soft chin, there was no aura, he was just fun to watch.
Honeyghan was also well matched on the way. One thing about the great Mickey Duff was he knew how to develop fighters.
Watson was meant to fight McCallum at Alexandra Palace in 89 but had to pull out due to inujury in sparring , meantime McCallum fought Collins a good fight to keep sharp whereas Watson had no fights, even though he asked Barry Hearn to give him a fight to keep him sharp hearns laughed it off and said naah you`ll beat him (McCallum). When they fight on 1990 Watson just wasnt himself rusty as you can get. McCallum said to Watson that he was glad he didnt have to fight him in 89 at the Alexandra Palace due to Watson being at his physical best., meaning it would have been a completely different fight.