The Boxing History Blog

Michael Watson Mickey Duff guaranteed that Michael Watson’s victory over Nigel Benn would elevate him to the number one spot in the WBA rankings. Jamaica’s Mike McCallum won the vacant crown by a split decision against Herol Graham at the Royal Albert Hall on 10th May 1989, eleven days prior to Watson and Benn squaring off. McCallum, known as the ‘Bodysnatcher’, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on 7th December 1956, and compiled an amateur record of 240-10. During his 250-bout career, he was runner-up in the 1974 Central America and Caribbean Games and reached the quarterfinals of that year's World Championships.    The following year he was a silver medallist at the North American Continental Championships, and in 1976 reached the welterweight quarterfinals of the Montreal Olympic Games. In 1977 he became the National AAU welterweight champion, defeating Marlon Starling in the semifinal, and lifted the National Golden Gloves title.   His success continued in 1978 with wins

Michael Watson Michael Watson never met Nigel Benn in person, he only watched his fights on television and was impressed with his power, but he saw flaws in the ‘Dark Destroyer’ that he felt he could exploit. Watson showed confidence before his March 1989 date with Franklin Owens at the Royal Albert Hall by telling reporters he would beat Benn because of his superior boxing skills and said “No problem” when they asked about dealing with Benn’s firepower. Owens, fighting out of Oklahoma City, retired at the end of round three due to a cut left eye.   Watson had met better opposition in his 21-1-1 (17 KOs) than Benn and was rated higher than the Commonwealth middleweight champion in the World Boxing Council rankings, but unlike Benn, Watson was not considered a marquee fighter, and the Benn camp saw Watson as just a stepping stone to a world title shot. However, Watson was sick of being underestimated by all the negative publicity thrown his way from Team Benn.    The animosity thrown Wa

Michael Watson Michael Watson was born on 15th March 1965 at Mother’s Hospital in Clapton, to parents Joan and Jim. The previous year, Joan, aged twenty, followed Jim from Jamaica to England, to make a better life for themselves. Michael’s father found work at a chemical factory in Enfield keeping the same job until his retirement. Joan also found work at an old people’s home but soon gave it up when she discovered she was pregnant with Michael. They also had an older daughter, Dawn, who remained in Jamaica.   On 22nd May 1967, at the same hospital, Joan gave birth to Watson’s younger brother Jeffrey. Soon after, Joan went back to work at the old people’s home as money was getting tight. Whilst at work, she left her two boys at the nanny’s house off Stamford Hill.   One January evening, Joan picked up the brothers from the nanny’s house. Jeffrey was tucked up in his baby’s pram, and Michael was strapped to the seat over the pram’s cover. As she waited at a crossing on Stamford Hill nea