- This article is about the boxer. For the Member of the Scottish Parliament, see Michael Goodall Watson.
Michael Watson (born March 15, 1965) is a former boxer from England. Born in London, he is a resident of Islington. He was one of the smoothest, defensive boxers you could ever lay eyes on. Although he did not become a world champion, many in England see him as a hero.
Watson began boxing in 1979 and instantly adapted well to the sport, reaching the ABA junior final in 1980 (139 lbs.), he won the ABA juniors the following year (147 lbs.) and was also an NABC semi-finalist (147 lbs.). By 1982 he was London ABA Champion (156 lbs.), having defeated quality opposition such as Roy Andre and Rod Douglas en route to the title. Watson lost a close and controverisal decision to Errol Christie to decide who went to the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Austrialia. Two years later, Watson lost a close and controverisal decision to Rod Douglas to decide who went to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. However, Watson was in Los Angeles as a reserve for the Great Britain Olympic team.
Watson debuted professionally on October 16, 1984 as a Middleweight, beating Winston Wray by a knockout in round four in London. Watson was almost instantly one of BBC Grandstand's best prospects, a boxing purists favourite due to his composed, thoughtful approach to his boxing.
Many criticised Watson's manager Micky Duff for bringing him along slowly in the first four and half years of his career, but Watson was steadily climbing the rankings even though most of his opposition were poor. Michael had endured an educational points loss in 1986 to future British champion James Cook in his first ever eight-round fight with three-minute rounds, he was out-hussled by Cook rather than out-boxed and it was a very close decision. In his next fight, he fought at Wembley Stadium on the undercard of the world heavyweight title fight between Tim Witherspoon and Frank Bruno, winning via knockout in round one. After six further wins, he came up against one of the Kronk Gym's best prospects in Don Lee. After defeating Lee even more impressively than one of America's best prospects Michael Olijade managed, legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward told the BBC camera's that Watson was a "future all-timer". Watson was a Top 10 contender during the era of Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran, it was a great era to be a Top 10 contender.
Watson came up against respectable American opposition in Kenneth Styles, Joe McKnight and Ricky Stackhouse in 1988, one after another he defeated them by TKO in fights where he barely broke a sweat and came out wihout a mark on him. He defeated Stackhouse even more impressively than Frank Tate, Herol Graham and Roberto Duran had managed. Next up was a trip to Davenport, USA to spend a few weeks training with Top American Middleweight contender Michael Nunn. American boxing promoter Dan Goosen promised Watson that if both he and Nunn won their fights at Caeser's Palace, Las Vegas, Watson would be Nunn's first challenger for the IBF Middleweight Championship of the World. Watson was involved in the supporting fight to Nunn's challenge for the IBF title against IBF Champion Frank Tate, but in a stroke of bad luck Watson caught his opponent Israle Cole with an accidental headbutt in the second round and the fight was called off. Goosen then told Watson that he'd have to prove that he's the best Middleweight in Britain, by defeating Herol Graham, if he was to have a shot at Nunn's IBF title.
British Champion Herol 'Bomber' Graham proved very elusive to Watson, claiming he had bigger fish to fry as he looked for a world title shot rather give Watson a shot at the British title. But after Watson defeated respectable American Reggie Miller even more impressively than one of boxing's best prospects 'The Dark Destroyer' Nigel Benn, it became apparent that Watson should challenge Britain's menacing puncher Benn for his Commonwealth title. The fight was arranged quickly and recieved a lot of attention in the build-up.
Benn seemed to be using the opportunity to fight Watson as some kind of coronation, he was a fans favourite who had brutally knocked out all of his 22 opponents (most of which in the early stages) and the plan was to set Benn loose in America where his exciting, aggressive manner was bound to find favour, Benn-Watson was screened live in America and if Benn knocked out Watson it was guaranteed from American boxing promoter Bob Arum that Benn would have a shot at Nunn. Benn was an ITV fighter whereas Watson was a BBC fighter. Benn was a puncher whereas Watson was a counter-puncher. The vast majority felt that Benn was going to blast Watson out of the ring, but a lot of shrewd people in the boxing business knew that Watson could pull off a shock.
A circus style venue, dubbed the 'super tent', was erected in North London's Finsbury Park. The excitement on the night of the fight, May 21 1989, was palpable both to attendees and viewers on national television where it was broadcast live on terrestrial ITV at prime time. Benn had a flashy ring entrance and looked ready, but Watson surprised everyone with his peek-a-boo style. Watson tucked up, absorbed Benn's heavy leather and knocked out the exhausted Commonwealth Champion with a jab in the sixth. It was a masterclass in strategy and execution, Watson at his best.
After the Benn victory a fight against International Boxing Hall of Famer Mike McCallum for the WBA Middleweight title was arranged. However, it was postponed twice and when it did finally take place Watson had been out of the ring for nearly a year and had had only four weeks to prepare. The fight ended in heartbreak for Watson, he had been ceaselessly body-punched by the appropriately monikored 'Body Snatcher' and was stopped in the eleventh round.
After three more wins, he was given a second world title fight, on June 22, 1991, against WBO world champion Chris Eubank. Watson lost a close bout by twelve round decision, and many fans and critics thought that he should have been crowned world champion that night, so the WBO ordered an immediate rematch.
His rematch with Eubank, held on September 21, 1991, would turn out to be a turning point for Watson's life. It has been called one of the most brutal fights in British boxing history. After dropping Eubank in round eleven, Watson seemed confident that victory was his. However, Eubank, probably feeling desperate to retain his title, landed a punch to Watson's chin just as that same round ended and Watson fell. Watson did not recuperate completely from this punch before the next round began. Eubank felt he was behind on points and needed a knockout, so he proceeded to punish Watson along the ropes. After the fight was stopped by the referee, chaos ensued because Watson suddenly collapsed inside the ring.
In need of quick medical help, he faced some dire moments: there was no ambulance or paramedics at the event's site, and Watson went 30 minutes without oxygen, finally being put on an oxygen mask after an ambulance had been rushed from a nearby hospital. These 30 minutes without oxygen proved vital in the outcome of Watson's future, and he spent 40 days in a coma. It is believed that the 30 minutes Watson spent without oxygen are among the largest amount of time that a person has gone without oxygen and survived in history.
Chris Eubank himself was affected after this: he went on to be defeated by Steve Collins a couple of years later, and he went through hard emotional times, as many boxers do after these types of boxing accidents, as reflected by his win-loss record after the second fight with Watson.
Watson woke up from his coma, but even then, his prognosis was not good. His neurosurgeon was afraid Watson would never speak or walk again. He spent many years at the hospital, slowly recovering some of his movements, and regaining the ability to eat regular food, read, and write simple notes. Still, in 1999, his neurosurgeon wrote that Watson would never be able to walk again.
Soon after, the doctor's prognosis began to change, as Watson started getting off bed and was able to begin walking therapy. But his doctor was still a little negative: He said that Watson would have a hard time walking half the distance of a room.
On April 19, 2003, Michael Watson made headlines and became an instant national hero in England, when he was able to complete, after 6 days, the London Marathon. Finishing the race by his side were Chris Eubank and his neurosurgeon, who has become a personal friend of his.
Watson received, on February 4 of 2004, an MBE by HRH Queen Elizabeth II. She told him that she had heard of his achievements. Watson himself felt overjoyed and noted that this was the first visit to Buckingham Palace by him, his brother and his mother, although they had passed in front of the Palace many times before.
Another of Nigel Benn's rivals, Gerald McClellan, went through a similar, life threatening situation, but McClellan's emergency, unlike Watson's, occurred after a fight with Benn himself. McClellan was also told he'd never be able to talk or walk again, but he has slowly been recuperating both abilities too.
The BBBC, Britain's governing boxing commission, was enraged that there were no paramedics at the site, citing that not only the boxers themselves, but also the large public could be in danger if another emergency occurred to anyone during a boxing event in Britain. As a consequence of this, the regulatory body made it a requirement for boxing promoters to have ambulances, medical doctors and paramedics on the site of the boxing event. Watson was awarded $1 million dollars, most of it to cover for his medical expenses.
Watson had 26 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws as a boxer, with 21 wins by knockout.