Michael Watson's blistering attack on Joe Calzaghe!

Michael Watson: "There's no chance boxing is as big now as it was when I was fighting. We have no characters, no names, no charisma. When I was fighting there was that Hagler against Hearns fight and has it been matched in 20 years since? Nothing has come close with the exception of Benn against Eubank, my second fight with Chris (Eubank) and the Benn against McClellan. I think that my second fight with Chris is the closest that comes to it. "There was Mike Tyson who really caught public imagination, Frank Bruno was a nationally loved figure, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank had a rivalry that really caught public imagination, James Toney had a heck of a mouth on him. There is none of that stuff today, there's just nothing left. Hagler against Leonard is bigger than any fight that has happened since, it shouldn't be that way, things should be getting better. "ITV being back in the sport will help ... but boxing is really in a sad state, the lowest ever in this country. But Ricky Hatton is a man of class and he deserves respect. I love Ricky. He's a real grafter and a great pro. He's the best that has been produced in Britain for a while, but there's still a lack of talent. "There is a lot of razzmatazz for fighters who don't deserve it. Amir Khan has hardly done anything but they are making him big and unfortunately I think it's gone to his head. "Calzaghe has also got a long way to go. Who has he fought? Anyone can keep a title as long as he has by fighting nobodies. I fought Chris for the vacant title and he fought Chris for the vacant title six years later, I was doing better with Chris than he was and I was in there with Chris who was in his prime, Calzaghe was in there with Chris who was six years past his best. He's just gone to Germany to defend his title, but this Mario Veit is not in the same class as Michalczewski, Rocchigiani or Maske. He beat that guy Byron Mitchell, but is that guy in the same class as Roy Jones, Gerald McClellan or James Toney? "Where's Nigel Benn on Calzaghe's resume? Where's Michael Watson on Calzaghe's resume? Okay, yes Calzaghe has stopped Mitchell in two rounds in the Calzaghe backyard, but Benn stopped Iran Barkley in one round in the Barkley backyard, no comparison. I'm telling you, this guy Calzaghe is nothing more than a bumped up Gary Stretch."

Comments (15)

no i don't think so. collins has a tough chin. he's neve been knockout. i think he's been only knock down once in his career. the body snatcher can't even knocked him out. No, pre Watson, Eubank would have stopped Collins in the 1st fight. Watch the fight when Eubank knocks Collins down. Collins is hurt bad. Eubank doesn't go in for the kill because of what happened to Watson.

20y ago

Orange_Sneakers

Pre Watson,Eubank would of stopped Collins.

20y ago

SliqueHook

It's true I had Collins winning the fight but it was so close though. Let me put it this way, ain't none of these UK champ was undisputed.

20y ago

Orange_Sneakers

Well Collins won the WBA middleweight title against Reggie Johnson in america but they gave it to Johnson,I had Collins winning 9 rounds.Thats why Collins never fought in america again,they robbed him.When he moved up to super middleweight and fought Eubank he was hypnotised and a different Collins,and it was a different Eubank too due to Collins mind games.Collins didnt hit his prime til he was hypnotised 95-96,Eubank's prime was 90-91 before he hurt Watson,thats according to both fighters themselves.I dont think Collins gets to Eubank enough if Eubank gave him a shot at his middleweight title,Eubank was a slick killer at middleweight.

20y ago

SliqueHook

Actually Ray Close should have the one that bust that boring enigmatic Eubank so Collins only did the payback. Body Snatcher beat the living shiet out of Collins. I won't blame you for saying it close because you might have given Collins the benefit of the doubt on close rounds but Collins was totally outclast and also the Body Snatcher beat Watson. Collins came after after little success in America and sweep everybody in UK.

20y ago

Orange_Sneakers

No way does Collins beat Watson,its very difficult to see how,Watson has the smooth style to keep Collins off him and score with shots,Collins wouldnt be an easy fight for anybody but Watson beats him by comfortable decision.Eubank was on another planet when he fought Collins,did you see the press conferences?He looked like he'd seen a ghost.And lets not forget that Eubank became the first man to ever score a knockdown on Collins,and then Eubank didnt do anything because he didnt want to do another Watson on somebody.Mccallum didnt beat the living shit out of Collins,if anything it was Collins beating the living shit out of Mccallum.Did you see that fight?It featured alot of infighting and Collins was throwing twice as many shots but made himself an easy target for Mike,so Mike was scoring and making every shot count whereas Steve was missing with most of his shots or not really landing clean.I think each round was very close,Mccallum narrowly getting the edge in most rounds due to that bit more accuracy over aggression.I dont think Steve finished Benn and doesnt claim to of either,I think its fair to say that Mcclennan did that.

20y ago

SliqueHook

Well looks like I am to spoil this reliving British crap. Collins went back to clean up the UK line up. He finishes Benn, washes off Eubank and would have beat Watson too. This is the sam Collins that the Body Snatcher beat the living shiet of out of him.

20y ago

JUYJUY

Damn right on mate! They are my favourite fights ever. And the Benn-Eubank-Watson rivalry was great, they were as good as eachother and so their fights against eachother were fantastic.. they gave us five great fights between 1989 and 1993, the hype leading up to the fights was what made them so special and the whole occasions were just special. The good ole days :(

20y ago

Orange_Sneakers

Thinking about it,we had some brutal battles involving our brit middles.Some of the best fights Ive ever seen include- Benn V Barkley,Benn V Eubank 1,Eubank V Watson 2,Benn V McClennan,Eubank V Thompson 1 and 2

20y ago

Orange_Sneakers

Talk about being positive,thats not good to hear.I also agree that Watson is full of torment that his career was cut short and yes maybe abit of jealousy.We need positive people,no offence to Michael but that doesnt include him.

20y ago

JUYJUY

Also, Michael was renowned as a quiet guy and a nice guy who had no charisma! So it's strange him saying that there is no charisma in boxing today compared to his day, when he didn't have any charisma himself. I think he's just a little frustrated and jealous, guys are getting recognised more than he did, his biggest headlines were him being crippled.

20y ago

JUYJUY

Michael's a hero and a truly inspirational human being, his fightback from injury was almost superhuman and him completing that marathon was emotional for the whole country! But unfortunately Michael is a bitter man, he's bitter because his promising career was ripped away from him. He believes that boxing was a sport he was going to dominate, and the brutal honest truth is that he's a little jealous of the likes of Benn, Eubank and Lennox Lewis because they left him behind after his injury and achieved what they did. I think he says a lot of things out of spite and jealousy, that's the cold hard truth. Yes his story is moving and it was sad, and a shame his career was cut short, but he can't accept the fact that times have moved on and others have gone further than he did.

20y ago

philquot_the_hitman_quotmanny

Hes right.

20y ago

JUYJUY

This guy sounds like he needs to get laid.. Not much chance of that dude, he's been paralysed for 14 years.

20y ago

Tha_Greatest6475

This guy sounds like he needs to get laid..

20y ago