Michael Watson
Template:Short description {{#invoke:Other people|otherPeople}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox boxer
Michael Watson Template:Post-nominals (born 15 March 1965) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1991. He held the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1989 to 1991, and challenged three times for a world title between 1990 and 1991. Watson's career was cut short as a result of a near-fatal injury sustained during a loss to Chris Eubank for the WBO super-middleweight title in 1991.<ref name="MarathonEnd">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Amateur careerEdit
Watson took up boxing at the age of fourteen at the Crown and Manor boxing club,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> where he proved to be a quick learner, winning an under-71 kg London Schools title in 1980.
He had an impressive 20–2 record at the Crown and Manor Club. He transferred to the Colvestone Boxing Club where he trained and sparred for over a year with Kirkland Laing, Dennis Andries, and Darren Dyer. He entered the 1983/84 Nationals at under 75 kg and won the title. On his 19th birthday he fought John Beckles during the 1984 London ABAs, both being national champions. Watson, initially seen as the underdog, won the fight in just over 30 seconds, and was seen as a hope for a boxing medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. However, that place on the Olympic team was taken by Liverpool's Brian Schumacher.
Professional careerEdit
Watson's professional career lasted from 1984 to 1991. The highlight was his May 1989 victory over Nigel Benn to secure the British Commonwealth middleweight title. This led to a world title clash with Jamaican Mike McCallum, who defeated Watson by a knockout in the eleventh round.
On 22 June 1991 at Earl's Court, he met Chris Eubank in another opportunity for the world middleweight title. Eubank won by a majority decision of 116–113, 115–113 and 114–114, close enough to incur dissent from some commentators and supporters.<ref>E.g., Dooley T Template:Usurped BritishBoxing.net May 2008.</ref>
Rematch with Eubank and career-ending injuryEdit
A rematch was arranged on 21 September 1991 at White Hart Lane, this time for the vacant WBO super middleweight title. In round 11, with Watson ahead on points and seemingly on the verge of a stoppage victory, he knocked Eubank down with an overhand right. Moments later, Eubank was back on his feet and connected with a devastating uppercut, which caused Watson to fall back and hit the back of his head against the ropes.
Referee Roy Francis stopped the fight in round 12, after which Watson collapsed in the ring. There was no ambulance or paramedic at the event.<ref name="MarathonEnd" /> Doctors wearing dinner jackets arrived but only after more than eight minutes had elapsed, during which time the fallen fighter received no oxygen. A total of 28 minutes elapsed before Watson received treatment in a hospital neurosurgical unit.<ref name="Super-boxing">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TalkBoxing">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spent 40 days in a coma and had six brain operations to remove a blood clot.<ref name="SPOTY">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
After regaining consciousness, he spent over a year in intensive care and rehabilitation and six more years confined to a wheelchair<ref name="MarathonEnd"/> while he slowly recovered some movement and regained the ability to speak and write. Peter Hamlyn, the consultant neurosurgeon who operated on Watson, said in 2010, "I think back to those first days, and the milestone moments. The first eight months were so depressing. He couldn't hear, couldn't speak, couldn't walk. Slowly, he clawed it all back. So extraordinary".<ref name=" GA Davies_The Daily Telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref>
Life after boxingEdit
Watson sued the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) for negligence and won damages reputedly of around £1 million.<ref name="Super-boxing"/> The High Court ruled that the BBBoC was responsible for medical provision at a fight and that administering oxygen and resuscitation on site would have made a considerable difference to Watson's outcome. Mr Justice Kennedy said that the board was "in breach of its duty to Mr Watson".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This decision was upheld at the Court of Appeal, and the BBBoC did not appeal to the House of Lords, selling their London headquarters to pay out a £400,000 compensation settlement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The judge said that this was "sadly a long way short of the damages that [Watson] would have received had the defendants had the money or had they been insured".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On 19 April 2003 Watson completed the London Marathon, walking two hours each morning and afternoon for six days. Raising money for the Brain and Spine Foundation, Watson slept overnight in a support bus.<ref name="Marathon">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Finishing the race by his side were Chris Eubank and his neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn, both of whom had become his personal friends.<ref name="MarathonEnd"/> On 4 February 2004 Watson was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to disability sport.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Watson was announced as a torchbearer in the 2012 Paralympic relay.<ref name="Paralympic Games">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In February 2017 Watson and his carer, Lennard Ballack, were victims of a carjacking in Chingford, London.<ref name="BBC Carjacking">Template:Cite news</ref> During the attack, Ballack had ammonia sprayed in his face and was beaten, whilst Watson was dragged along the road when the car was driven off, unable to escape. Watson suffered flashbacks and seizures after the event. The two attackers were later sentenced to 16 years in prison for their part in the attack and other crimes.
Watson's career-ending bout and the risk of boxing from Frank Bruno's career threatening (later proven career-ending) eye injury were documented on Four Kings mini documentary. He made an appearance for the final episode. He admitted that he has never resented Eubank for the injury.
Professional boxing recordEdit
| Template:Abbr | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Template:No2Loss | 25–4–1 | Chris Eubank | TKO | 12 (12), Template:Small | 21 Sep 1991 | Template:Small | Template:Small |
| 29 | Template:No2Loss | 25–3–1 | Chris Eubank | Template:Abbr | 12 | 22 Jun 1991 | Template:Small | Template:Small |
| 28 | Template:Yes2Win | 25–2–1 | Anthony Brown | KO | 1 (10) | 1 May 1991 | Template:Small | |
| 27 | Template:Yes2Win | 24–2–1 | Craig Trotter | TKO | 6 (12) | 23 Jan 1991 | Template:Small | Template:Small |
| 26 | Template:Yes2Win | 23–2–1 | Errol Christie | TKO | 3 (10) | 18 Nov 1990 | Template:Small | |
| 25 | Template:No2Loss | 22–2–1 | Mike McCallum | KO | 11 (12), Template:Small | 14 Apr 1990 | Template:Small | Template:Small |
| 24 | Template:Yes2Win | 22–1–1 | Nigel Benn | TKO | 6 (12), Template:Small | 21 May 1989 | Template:Small | Template:Small |
| 23 | Template:Yes2Win | 21–1–1 | Franklin Owens | TKO | 3 (10) | 8 Mar 1989 | Template:Small | |
| 22 | Template:Yes2Win | 20–1–1 | Jimmy Shavers | TKO | 3 (10), Template:Small | 18 Jan 1989 | Template:Small | |
| 21 | Template:Yes2Win | 19–1–1 | Reggie Miller | TKO | 5 (10), Template:Small | 24 Oct 1988 | Template:Small | |
| 20 | Template:DrawDraw | 18–1–1 | Israel Cole | Template:Abbr | 2 (8) | 28 Jul 1988 | Template:Small | Template:Small |
| 19 | Template:Yes2Win | 18–1 | Ricky Stackhouse | TKO | 4 (10) | 4 May 1988 | Template:Small | |
| 18 | Template:Yes2Win | 17–1 | Joe McKnight | TKO | 4 (10) | 13 Apr 1988 | Template:Small | |
| 17 | Template:Yes2Win | 16–1 | Kenneth Styles | TKO | 9 (10) | 9 Mar 1988 | Template:Small | |
| 16 | Template:Yes2Win | 15–1 | Don Lee | TKO | 5 (10), Template:Small | 3 Feb 1988 | Template:Small | |
| 15 | Template:Yes2Win | 14–1 | Sam Houston | TKO | 2 (8) | 28 Oct 1987 | Template:Small | |
| 14 | Template:Yes2Win | 13–1 | Franky Moro | TKO | 4 (8) | 5 Oct 1987 | Template:Small | |
| 13 | Template:Yes2Win | 12–1 | Cliff Gilpin | PTS | 8 | 19 Mar 1987 | Template:Small | |
| 12 | Template:Yes2Win | 11–1 | Ralph Smiley | PTS | 8 | 22 Feb 1987 | Template:Small | |
| 11 | Template:Yes2Win | 10–1 | Ian Chantler | TKO | 4 (8) | 19 Jan 1987 | Template:Small | |
| 10 | Template:Yes2Win | 9–1 | Alan Baptiste | PTS | 8 | 4 Nov 1986 | Template:Small | |
| 9 | Template:Yes2Win | 8–1 | Simon Collins | Template:Abbr | 1 (8) | 19 Jul 1986 | Template:Small | |
| 8 | Template:No2Loss | 7–1 | James Cook | PTS | 8 | 20 May 1986 | Template:Small | |
| 7 | Template:Yes2Win | 7–0 | Carlton Warren | Template:Abbr | 6 | 7 May 1986 | Template:Small | |
| 6 | Template:Yes2Win | 6–0 | Karl Barwise | TKO | 3 (6), Template:Small | 19 Feb 1986 | Template:Small | |
| 5 | Template:Yes2Win | 5–0 | Martin McEwan | TKO | 6 (6), Template:Small | 5 Nov 1985 | Template:Small | |
| 4 | Template:Yes2Win | 4–0 | Gary Tomlinson | TKO | 4 (6), Template:Small | 5 Jun 1985 | Template:Small | |
| 3 | Template:Yes2Win | 3–0 | Dennis Sheehan | TKO | 3 (6), Template:Small | 14 Apr 1985 | Template:Small | |
| 2 | Template:Yes2Win | 2–0 | Johnny Elliott | TKO | 8 (8), Template:Small | 26 Feb 1985 | Template:Small | |
| 1 | Template:Yes2Win | 1–0 | Winston Wray | Template:Abbr | 4 (4), Template:Small | 16 Oct 1984 | Template:Small |
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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