Tragedy in the Ring: Boxer Michael Watson

Michael Watson was born on March 15th, 1965 in the Hackney neighborhood of London. He started learning to box at the Crown and Manor boxing club at the age of 14, and proved to be a fast learner and talented fighter. He later switched to the Colvestone boxing club, and was considered by many to be a hot prospect for the 1984 UK Olympic Boxing Team. He was edged out of a berth for the Olympics, however, and turned pro in October 1984.
Under the tutelage of Mickey Duff, Watson steadily accumulated experience. He suffered an early road-bump when he lost a close decision to future British champion James Cook in May 1986. After that loss, it was all up for Watson. He put together a 15 fight winning streak, including a 6 fight knockout streak over some of Britain's most durable journeymen. The 21-1 record was enough to earn Watson his first big fight.

That was in May 1989 against the 22-0 British Commonwealth Middleweight Champion, Nigel "The Dark Destroyer" Benn. Benn was soon to become one of the most feared knockout artists of the 1990s, and was a tough, menacing boxer-puncher who wielded dogged determination and dynamite in both hands. In the first great fight of what would become a great era for British boxing, Benn stormed out and attempted to blast Watson out of the ring. Watson doggedly hung on, using his skills to keep Benn at bay. In what was the first stern test for both men, Benn punched himself out and was felled by a left from Watson.

Knocking Benn out secured Watson a world title shot against WBA Middleweight ChampionMike "The Bodysnatcher" McCallum. Against McCallum, Watson was going too far too soon, and Duff's customary conservative matchmaking failed them both. McCallum was arguably the best middleweight in the world in 1990, having been ducked by Sugar Ray Leonard, dropped a narrow points loss to Sumbu Kalambay, and beaten the likes of Steve Collins, Herol Graham, Julian Jackson, Donald Curry and Milton McCrory. McCallum was just too experienced for Watson: the Bodysnatcher out-matched Watson and knocked him out in the 11th.

The fight was Watson's last for Mickey Duff, who soon transferred his flag to the offices of British promoter Barry Hearn. A three fight winning streak had Watson back in contention, and by June 1996 he was matched to fight the defining boxer of the 1990s British middleweight picture: Chris Eubank. Eubank was 27-0 and the WBO Middleweight Champion, having won his title by knocking out Nigel Benn. It was a classic encounter between to of Britain's most skilled boxer-punchers, and the result was a desperately close Majority Decision win for Eubank.

Eubank soon announced his intention to move up from 160 lbs to 168 lbs, but too many through the result of the Eubank vs. Watson fight was too close to be left at that. The British public was clamoring for a rematch, and since Eubank was set to fight for the vacant WBO Super Middleweight Title, it was decided the title fight would also be a rematch with Watson set for September 21st, 1991.

Watson, burning for revenge, fought like a man possessed at Tottenham Stadium that night. By the 11th, he was leading on all scorecards (on one of them by 108-102), and when he slammed Eubank to the canvas with a left hook he looked set to finish the fight by stoppage. It was then that Eubank showed his champion's heart. He got right back up, and after being cleared by the referee he savagely attacked Watson. He landed a devastating right uppercut that knocked Watson over, causing him to bang his head on the ropes on his way down. Watson got back up and fought on into Round 12, but was dazed and nearly helpless before Eubank's onslaught. Referee Roy Francis stepped in and put a stop to the fight. Watson collapsed almost immediately.

It was here that the incompetence of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) doomed Watson. Unlike the norm for boxing, or indeed sporting events in general across the industrialized world, there was no ambulance present at Tottenham. Nor was there a doctor assigned to the event. It took 8 minutes for dinner-jacketed doctors sitting among the paying audience to respond to the call for help, and 28 minutes before Watson arrived at the hospital to receive even the beginnings of special treatment. All the while, his brain was slipping away from him.

Watson was in a coma for 40 days, and needed 6 separate operations to remove the blood clot in his brain. He spent a year in intensive care, and the following 6 years in a wheelchair while he regained some limited motor functions and the ability to write and speak.

Watson successfully sued the BBBC and was awarded 1 million pounds, and this was upheld in the Court of Appeals. However, he ultimately had to settle for 400,000 pounds, as the BBBC simply did not have the assets to cover the original award.

In April 2003, Watson made an attempt at the London Marathon in his own limited way to raise money for the Brain and Spine Foundation: he walked the course for two hours every morning and afternoon until he completed it. In February 2004 he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. He continues to live in England, serving as an inspiration to many.

Sources: michaelwatsonmbe.co.uk; news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/london_marathon_2003/2958573.stm; telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/3012877/Super-boxing-plan-for-safer-better-bouts.html; telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/3013208/Talking-Boxing-Life-saving-comfort-for-Michael-Watson.html; boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=1787&cat=boxer