Tapia endured some awful things in his younger years. I can't remember if it said in his book he was bi-polar too or something, before it was a recognised thing like it is now. I could be talking sh*t there though....Stuarty30 wrote:Michael Watson whenever I hear him talk usually picks me up if I'm a bit low. Never heard him moan or bitch about what happened to him he just gets on with his life with courage and dignity! I was also a massive admirer of Johnny Tapia. He never done himself any favours going off the rails at times but he was a hell of a fighter and an even bigger character.
As regards Michael Watson, his name came to mind when I saw this title. He comes to my mind when I think of my favourite fighter and yet he was just before I actually started to follow the sport. I became a big fan simply through reading his book - and yes, it is always nice to see him on the TV. I love his fight with Nigel Benn on Youtube in the big tent - that was an absolute lion-taming act quite frankly - and Jim Watt does a great commentary on that fight too.
Interestingly, Watson told an anecdote on TV the other week saying that Marvin Hagler came up to him once and said out of all the middleweights Eubank, Benn and maybe some others - he said Watson was the one that he would struggle with - might have even said lose against. So whether he meant it or not, that was a nice touch by Marvin.
Staying with the middles I reckon Irishman Steve Collins is a tough guy. Going to America early really put him in good stead and he made the most of his ability I reckon, so I think Collins is quite inspirational.
