The Boxing History Blog

  Michael Watson Chris Eubank’s controversial points decision over Michael Watson was met with a public outcry, and many believed the challenger had done enough to secure victory. The rematch was set for 21st September 1991 at Tottenham Hotspurs White Hart Lane for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title.   It had been widely documented that both boxers were struggling to make the middleweight limit, and Eubank vacating his title was seen as an overdue move. Ed Levine, the WBO president, was happy to sanction Eubank-Watson 2 for the belt left vacant when Thomas Hearns moved up to light-heavyweight and captured Virgil Hill’s WBA title in June 1991.   Levine felt the closeness of Eubank-Watson 1 warranted a rematch for the middleweight title, but when the champion decided to move up a division, it became a ready-made fight to fill their super-middleweight vacancy. “I’ve just watched a videotape of the fight,” said Levine from his Miami offices, “and I had it a draw - and I ...

Michael Watson The following months after his defeat to Mike McCallum, Michael Watson sued his manager Mickey Duff and began to manage his own affairs. Three weeks before the 18th of November 1990 clash between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank, Watson approached Barry Hearn and the promoter hastily got him on the undercard against Errol Christie.    Coventry’s Christie had an illustrious amateur career and was touted as being one of the finest professional boxers the United Kingdom had ever produced, with many believing he would go on to win multiple world championships. He turned professional on live terrestrial television in November 1982, and his road to glory got underway.   However, his career took a downward spiral after clashing with Mark Kaylor in a British middleweight title eliminator on 5th November 1985. The build-up was marred by the two fighters brawling at a photo shoot to publicise the contest. The fight itself was predicted to be a short, explosive affair, and...