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MICHAEL Watson has never known British boxing to be in a worse state than it is now - despite Ricky Hatton's world title triumph and ITV's return to the sport.
Ring legend Watson still loves boxing even though he was left partly paralysed and with brain injuries after fighting Chris Eubank nearly 14 years ago.
Since the early and mid-90s, when Watson, with the likes of Eubank, Nigel Benn, Naseem Hamed and Frank Bruno, were watched by millions, the sport has gone into decline.
Watson, now 40, said: "There's no chance boxing is as big now as it was when I was fighting. We have no characters, no names, no charisma.
"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."
Watson doesn't rate Welshman Joe Calzaghe or Bolton lightweight Amir Khan, the Olympic silver medallist who makes his pro debut live on ITV on July 16.
He said: "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."
The Biggest Fight: Michael Watson's Story (Time Warner Books) is available in paperback from Thursday, £7.99.
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/...name_page.html
Ring legend Watson still loves boxing even though he was left partly paralysed and with brain injuries after fighting Chris Eubank nearly 14 years ago.
Since the early and mid-90s, when Watson, with the likes of Eubank, Nigel Benn, Naseem Hamed and Frank Bruno, were watched by millions, the sport has gone into decline.
Watson, now 40, said: "There's no chance boxing is as big now as it was when I was fighting. We have no characters, no names, no charisma.
"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."
Watson doesn't rate Welshman Joe Calzaghe or Bolton lightweight Amir Khan, the Olympic silver medallist who makes his pro debut live on ITV on July 16.
He said: "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."
The Biggest Fight: Michael Watson's Story (Time Warner Books) is available in paperback from Thursday, £7.99.
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/...name_page.html
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