BoxRec

ive just been watching the williams/tyson fight and enjoyed hearing Jim Watts voice as commontator.

Jims life was littered with tragedy, anyone know how he is doing now?

I really wish him all the best, im presuming everyone is behind me with those wishes.

Greatest co commentator / analyst ever....miss him...

It says how good he was when my sister (not a boxing fan in the slightest) thought I was winding her up when I said he was an ex boxer. She thought he was a "proper" tv presenter. No umm, ahh or stutters - just proffesional and could read a fight better than anyone, he could really see the body language and see when a fighter is fading before anyone else could.

He was interviewed on the BBC about a year or so back - after his retirement - and he looked and sounded grand.

Was Jim Watt the main Sky commentator? I’d rather listen to him than Adam Smith with his ‘put on’ voice.,

Jim attended a recent benefit night for Ken Buchanan in Glasgow but he is in retirement and trying to come to terms with the suicide of his daughter.

Jim and Reg were a perfect combination,absolute legends,then of course Ian Darke after that,none of this screaming when someone takes a jab or goes down on one knee,all very calm and professional.

Jim Watt, I bumped into him outside the Albert Hall after McDonnell vs Nelson. Absolutely sound bloke and excellent commentator. I wish him all the best.

Was thinking about him myself last week after I seen him on an old Ken Buchanan docu on youtube, Ive always rated him, sure he had some off nights but it doesn't matter who you are or how experienced in the sport you are, you will have a few bad cards, its inevitable, I think Sky misses him, apart from Malignaggi there's no one there who ive really taken to, they're all a bit meh

Watt's had a horrendous personal life, to loss 2 children is unthinkable, especially to an absolute gentleman like him, I hope he's keeping well in retirement

I thought a lot of people on here used to complain about jim when he was still doing the commentary?

I thought Jim was quality

Was guest at St Andrew's Sporting Club last Thursday for British Bantamweight Title.Looked very well.

I used to like the Ian Darke and Jim Watt Duo for the big fights.

Jim used to get a lot of heat on this forum when he was commentating , lot of people saying he was terrible and just picked a fighter at beginning and stuck to it , ignoring the other persons work.

I met him on flight to my Birmingham for my Brothers cancelled fight against Kell Brook and he was happy to chat away on the flight and bus , he was good in still game aswell , Classic episode :)

A mate of mine told me that as an after-dinner speaker Watt is second to none. I always liked his commentary - very knowledgeable bloke.

Oiky wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 04:01 I thought a lot of people on here used to complain about jim when he was still doing the commentary?

I thought Jim was quality

Yeah, he was not particularly popular a couple years back.

Bit since his retirement we have had to listen to Adam Smith's commentary. Which usually involves getting over excited and wetting himself everytime anything at all happens.

I guess what they say is true, you don't know what you've got until it's gone.

I bumped into an old guy whilst queuing at a bar in Vegas, when I apologised I realised it was Jim Watt. Bought him a drink and had a chat for a while before he went back to his table in the corner where he was sat with Buncey and Bert Sugar.

Proper gent.

Oiky wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 04:01 I thought a lot of people on here used to complain about jim when he was still doing the commentary?

I thought Jim was quality

Yeah some of us did, mainly for the last 10 years of his commentating days because he turned into your typical Sky commentator, I do think he was good overall though, especially when paired with Reg in the ITV days.

Loved it in the first Froch/groves fight when Groves spun under a Froch righhand and ended up behind him and Jim said "that was class, that was downright cheek" (imagine it with the accent)

His name still pops up in the local Scottish regional and national papers. He seems to attend a lot of charity dos and anything to do with boxing. He was out in support of the Benny Lynch exhibition fairly recently: Speaking to The Herald (Glasgow edition), former WBC lightweight holder Jim Watt had high praise for Lynch, saying: “I’ve said it many times before, but I believe that Benny Lynch is Scotland’s greatest sporting legend. I think Benny would be touched to have a display about his life right here, in such a popular museum, not far from where he was brought up.”

I really miss Watts commentary. Probably doesn't fit the Sky narrative now though.

I saw him speak at a do in Glasgow a few years back as an after dinner speaker and he was really good but I didn't get a chance to meet him unfortunately.

He's had a proper hard life. Tough upbringing in Glasgow as a kid and lost two kids as an adult! God knows how he's managed to plod on. Tough man, all the best to him.

keirw wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 04:50

Oiky wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 04:01 I thought a lot of people on here used to complain about jim when he was still doing the commentary?

I thought Jim was quality

Yeah, he was not particularly popular a couple years back.

Bit since his retirement we have had to listen to Adam Smith's commentary. Which usually involves getting over excited and wetting himself everytime anything at all happens.

I guess what they say is true, you don't know what you've got until it's gone.

Adam smith is embarassing isn't he

Noxy wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 02:40 Jim Watt, I bumped into him outside the Albert Hall after McDonnell vs Nelson. Absolutely sound bloke and excellent commentator. I wish him all the best.

We sat next to him in traffic on the M6 as we headed for the Tony Sibson-Dwight Davison encounter at the NEC in 1982. He smiled and waved at us and we were going to re-enact his infamous Sean O'Grady headbutt but decided that that might be stretching things.

I thought Jim's commentary had an uncommon level of intelligence and eloquence for an ex fighter. He wasn't infallible--no commentator is--but on balance he was one of our best. Him and Reg Gutteridge complimented each other nicely, their old 80s Tyson calls are word perfect. Jim with Ian Darke is probably the last of the old school style boxing commentary teams--largely unbiased, refreshingly honest, free of hyperbole and above all restrained--except when the action legitimately excites. I met him at York Hall and was lucky enough to get my picture with him. It was the end of the night, he obviously wanted to get off, but was kind enough to endure delaying his exit and fraternising with me for a moment--much, much appreciated, and lives long in the memory.

I'm amazed to read such a positive, complimentary thread about Jim--when he was commentating Boxrec never stop whining about him! Well, he's gone now, you all got what you wanted, I hope you like what you got.

I always got the feeling Watt didn't like Adam Smith. Just a little feeling from their commentating at times. I could be completely wrong and blinded by my intense dislike of Smith. He has ruined many a fight on commentary

Smithy isn’t a popular bloke but he’s done well. Who wouldn’t want a job like his.

Jim was absolute class, the best of the best. Boxing misses him loads, all the best to Jim he deserves it

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 16:29 Jim was absolute class, the best of the best. Boxing misses him loads, all the best to Jim he deserves it

Yep

Noxy wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 16:31

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑03 Oct 2018, 16:29 Jim was absolute class, the best of the best. Boxing misses him loads, all the best to Jim he deserves it

Yep

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