Michael Watson how good could he have been?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Nov 2003, 06:43

Personally, I was always of the opinion, that had the tragic circumstances not befallen Watson in the eubank fight, he would have gone on to be a
real world beater.

He had better skills than Collins, Eubank or Benn, a great chin, decent power, and a good defence. He also had the heart of a lion. In fact, aside from lacking crunching power he combined the best aspects of all the above fighters.

Watson's losing effort against an absolutely prime Mike McCallum, when Watson was still a young pro developing into a mature fighter, showed me that he would have gone on to become the total package. His dismantling of Benn when he was totally cool under fire was awesome, and his first fight against Eubank was a scoring travesty.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 14 Nov 2003, 09:47

If the truth be known, Watson took a severe beating in the McCallum fight and this more or less finished him

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 Nov 2003, 10:06

Yes he took a beating, but I don't see how that finished him, in 1991 he turned in one of the best performances of his career against Eubank, and should have been awarded the decision.

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 15 Nov 2003, 11:34

I don't know about the term "world beater" as it was a very talent deep division at the time but he certainly would have gone on to mix it in the top echelon, and stay there.
He was just half a class above a Eubank or a Benn.

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 16 Nov 2003, 17:43

You being sarcastic?

Or did I say something stupid?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 17 Nov 2003, 12:14

They DID fight TWICE.

The first fight Watson TOTALLY OUTCLASSED EUBANK and should have won a decision but was robbed in.

In the second fight, Watson boxed his ears off again, dropped him, and had he not foolishly dropped his guard as Eubank got up, would probably have won the fight, and never been injured.

It always staggers me how someone who doesn't even know a fighters record well enough to comment on their worth as a fighter, how on earth could you not know that he fought Eubank twice?

Watson totally dismantled Benn, outclased and outfought
Eubank, and lost in 11 to McCallum who had beaten Collins and Herol Graham in his previous two bouts.

McCallum wasn't over the hill in 1990 at all, he went on to win titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight after the Watson fight, including wins over Kalambay, Jess Harding, a draw with Toney,

McCallum had a long prime, and is one of the most underrated fighters of the late 80's and 90's, and a loss to McCallum was no disgrace at all at that stage of Watson's career.

pbrennan · Post by **pbrennan** » 20 Nov 2003, 06:04

As a mythical match up a Benn v Watson rematch would be very intriguing.

Watson handed Benn his first defeat and was also the first fighter to teach Benn that when he hit them they ALL don't go down.

Benn was tactically niave against Watson and simply punched himself out in the belief that Watson was a choir boy from Dalston.

Watson fought a tactically smart fight and maintained a guard cuffed around his head until the dark destroyer was spent.

Benns demonstrated in his rematch against Eubank that he had matured as a fighter and learned from his early losses.

He would not have been so tactically niave in a rematch and I believe the match up would have been very close.I would still fancy Watson to win but I think a close points decision would have been likely at supermiddle.

Watson clearly had Eubanks number and notwitstanding the results of the two fights he was clearly the better fighter.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Nov 2003, 12:46

Personally I think that Watson was the best of the 4, he would have been too busy for Collins, and clearly beat Eubank in their first fight.

I also think he was still maturing when he met Benn, and whilst Benn probably would have done better, I still think Watson was technically too good for him, he had a hell of a chin too, much better than Benn's

Steve M · Post by **Steve M** » 20 Nov 2003, 16:38

I had just typed a long post about why i feel Herol Graham was in fact the best of the british middleweights but it is just saying invalid_session when i try to post it.I can't be bothered typing it all out again but i would say he is probably the most underrated boxer of the 80s. he was avoided and frozen out of the world title scene despite more than once being the no 1 contender and always a top contender for NINE years and was past his prime when he eventually got his shots.

He would have outboxed Collins, Watson and Eubank quite easily and would have schooled Benn in his prime.The only chance Benn would have of beating a prime Graham is if he pulled a Julian Jackson and landed a viscious bomb on an overconfident Graham who was trying to go for the kill but Graham had a great chin and if he Boxed Benn would hardly hit him all night.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 21 Nov 2003, 08:31

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Personally I think that Watson was the best of the 4, he would have been too busy for Collins, and clearly beat Eubank in their first fight.

I also think he was still maturing when he met Benn, and whilst Benn probably would have done better, I still think Watson was technically too good for him, he had a hell of a chin too, much better than Benn's

Been to busy for Collins? More like there other way round. I don't know any British Middleweight you would have outworked Collins. He's very underated and for me already showed he was better than Eubank or Benn. Collins vs Watson would have been great, but I think Collins would have done a McCallum and got to him by the end. Remember Collins was a MASSIVE Super middlweight. Eubank was big for the weight, but Collins looked a few weight classes above him and the size difference was a major part in how Collins could easily handle Benn.

In terms of achievements then I think Collins lies behind Eubank and probably Benn. However, I think Collins would have beaten Benn 10 times out of 10. Eubank is a different matter, cause he was not the same fighter after the Watson rematch. He needed the judges to really go against (in the first Thomspon match) to realise that he'd lost his killer instict. Eubank was rutheless in the Thomspon rematch, but that eye cost him dearly.

The fighter who may have cause Collins trouble would have been Herol Graham, hge may have been too slick. However, not sure Watson or Calzaghe would have been.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 21 Nov 2003, 10:38

I'd have to say Eubank was the best of the lot. Good puncher, great chin, enormous heart, strong, good speed, & skills.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 21 Nov 2003, 12:43

I don't remember Collins being bigger than Eubank....maybe he was, but I don't remember it.

Collins and Watson were on a par, their achievements were also similar, but I think Watson had the better skills, he was quicker on his feet and had better handspeed than Collins.

I would have loved to have seen Eubank v Collins in their respective primes, because like the man said, Eubank was never the same after what he did to Watson.

I think Calzaghe's style would have played right into the hands of Collins, who would have taken everything Joe had, and given him a right shooing.

Collins had one of the best chins I have ever seen.

Steve M · Post by **Steve M** » 21 Nov 2003, 15:12

Eubank wasn't the best.He was outclassed by Watson both times and i feel he lost the rematch with Benn.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 21 Nov 2003, 17:57

I think Bomber Graham would have beaten all of them.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Nov 2003, 20:32

I think Bomber from Aufwiedersein Pet would have beaten Bomber Graham.

Michael Watson how good could he have been?

Who was the greatest of the British middle/super middles

Michael Watson how good could he have been?

Finished?

Bollocks what are you talking about....!!!

Michael Watson