Michael Watson vs Iran Barkley

Watson would win on points at middleweight and super middleweight

 

Watson would tear Iran up- too skillful and lets remember Watson had a pretty good chin.
Mike Tinley outboxed Iran and Tinley was a good pro but not in Watsons class.
And lets remember Watson could punch hard too.

 

But Watson had to rely on Benn blowing his load.

Had Benn had enough cardio to keep firing all fight, Watson doesn't beat him imo.

It's a shame we never got to see a rematch as I always thought Benn was better as a SMW than a MW.

A bit less gung ho.

 

I don`t think Watson could have out-pointed Hearns in the early 90`s near the time when Barkley out-worked Hearns at 175.

 

Watson`s couldn`t punch as hard as Duran or Toney, Eubank completely over-powered Watson both times they fought and Eubank didn`t hit harder than Barkley.

 

I don't think that gives Watson proper credit. Throughout the fight Watson was catching most of Benn's punches on his gloves and elbows and countering continually. In the last 2 rounds he really ramped up his attacks and Benn was out on his feet the round before he got ko'd. Benn kept coming forward when hurt and looked to trade when hurt. Benn got knocked out by the jab because he'd just eaten a combination of punches that had put him in lala land

It's almost Ali v Foreman but on a much higher technical level.

 

Watson was robbed in the first fight. And Barkley wouldn't have the skill to land on Watson. Note the sport is boxing, not a punching hard competition

 

Anyway Watson wins a widish decision against Barkley. Different levels of skill

 

No don't get me wrong, Watson fought the right game plan to beta Benn, he capitalised on his weaknesses and timed his own attacks well.

I just don't think the way he fought Benn would have worked against someone as well conditioned as Barkley.

 

Watson too good for Barkley.

It's an absolute tragedy what happened to him. Superb fighter, we all missed out.

 

Nobody has enough cardio to keep firing like that all night, with all the PEDs in the world.

 

He hit harder than both.

 

You think Watson could knock out a world champ like Prince Charles Williams with one punch? Who did Watson KO that was on the same level as Nunn, Benn gassed v Watson, Toney stopped a tough heavyweight like Holy.

 

Yep, it was only his first camp with Jimmy Tibbs' renowned padwork (high tempo 3s and 4s with lots of slipping and rolling) and pool what it produced (perfect offensive counter-punching beatdown of one of the most talented and toughest intangible champions on the circuit)