Editing Michael Watson (section)

==Amateur career==
Watson took up boxing at the age of fourteen at the Crown and Manor boxing club,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/content/hackney/gazette/sport/story.aspx?brand=HKYGOnline&category=SportBoxing&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sporthkyg&itemid=WeED24%20Dec%202008%2011%3A30%3A21%3A583|title=Remembering Jason Matthews' career|date=24 December 2008|work=Hackney Gazette|accessdate=13 January 2009}}</ref> where he proved to be a quick learner, winning an under-71&nbsp;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&nbsp;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 [[Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games]]. However, that place on the Olympic team was taken by Liverpool's [[Brian Schumacher]].