Michael Watson's punching prowess

[The Surgeon]

115-114 for Watson.

I think thats pretty much how i had it too bud, might **** it on again and score it....

[The Surgeon]

No, my friend, that's because he was falling short with his shots due to be unable to shake off 11 months of ring rust, and fighting completely the wrong fight by going for quantity/volume over quality/power and thus leaving himself open much more than ever.

He clearly physically looked visibly v.stiff as well due to having influenza.

In his book he says he was in THE Best condition of his entire life but Ray Webb broke his nose on the last day of sparring - 8days before the fight. Obviously they needed to postpone and Watson says he wanted a tune up to shake off the rust but Barry Hearn wouldnt hear it, while McCallum had a fight in the mean time to keep the rust off. Watson says he was mentally ready but just couldnt find that spark in the gym second time around and knew he wasnt at his best. He couldnt shake the rust thus his timeing was off so he had to go looking for McCallum and was picked apart.

Personally i give some credit to this but at the same time the better fighter won and deservedly so, The Body Snatcher was just too good

[Mugwump]

Also true! I just got done with Watson's book and have been watching some of his fights of late, im a fan and he has respectible power but u wouldnt call him a real ****er, i wouldnt anyway but hey he did drop Eubank and stop Benn, ....

True. But Eubank went down because of exhaustion - nothing else. I doubt Watson could KO Eubank with railway sleeper - much less his fists. And Benn punched himself out (as he was prone to do early in his career).

[coghaugen]

People talk about the defensive performance against Benn and remember only the earmuffs with Benn winging away... But, by the end of the 2nd round Watson had hit Benn with literally every shot in the book, lead and counter right hands and uppercuts, lead and counter hooks, bodyshots from every angle... It was a terrific offensive, tactical and counter-punching performance IMO, Watson against Benn.

[coghaugen]

Just watched it again and the 2nd round is a nearly flawless display of boxing from Watson: blocking all of Benn's phenomenal hooks coming from all angles while placing in lots of jabs, lead right-left hook 1-2's, uppercut-jab 1-2's, angled lefts and angled body punches. Don't think Benn got a punch in in that round of boxing.

[coghaugen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOp5vtYZr4A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr8p6yh6nuU

[coghaugen]