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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."
"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."
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