03.05.06 – By James Slater: The year was 1989, the venue was “The Super Tent”- a specially constructed venue in Finsbury Park, London – and two of Britain’s emerging middleweight contenders, Nigel Benn and Michael Watson, were about to clash in a fantastic fight. Benn was undefeated and considered a huge puncher, and was therefore the betting favourite. Watson, however, was a very intelligent boxer and though he had lost one fight and drawn another – to James Cook and Israel Cole respectively- he had undeniably been in with a better class of opposition.. Michael had , for example, beaten the quite highly regarded Don Lee. So, would Benn’s brawn prove to be superior, or would Watson’s brain see him emerge victorious? A sell-out crowd crammed into the incredible atmosphere of “The Super Tent” in May of ’89 to find out. The action that followed was later to be referred to as Britains’s Hagler v Hearns! And as high a compliment as that was, the thrilling fight Watson and Benn put on
was one worthy of the comparison.
Michael entered the ring first, as he was challenging for Nigel’s Commonwealth middleweight title, and then Benn, dressed in a quite snazzysilver outfit, made his entrance – to deafening cheers. It was clear who had sold the most tickets for the fight. Benn was a huge fan favourite already in his career. He had made a name for himself as a big puncher, in actuality his unbeaten record of twenty two fights had all been won by KO. As such, big things were expected of him on the world scene. Still, any such plans would be well and truly put on hold if Watson were to tear up the script. And without doubt tonight’s clash was definitely agreed to be “The Dark Destroyer’s” toughest test yet. Michael knew how to fight!
In front of an audience that is at absolute fever pitch, Benn and Watson go to work as the first bell rings. Benn comes out blazing, as is his usual custom. He launches venomous punches at Watson in a bid to make him number twenty three on his hit list. Michael immediately goes on the defensive, with his gloves cupped around his head, as he tries to endure the initial
storm. His game-plan is to take Nigel into the later rounds, hopefully when some of the sting has gone out of his lethal shots. Benn has never gone past round seven before, and that had been on one occasion only. Watson puts all his faith into both his ring savvy and the strong possibility of his adversary having far less stamina than he possesses. It’s very tough at the moment though, as Benn really lets some hard blows go. Watson has to take an odd one here and there, but for the most part he blocks and covers up. But he cannot afford to make one single mistake. If he lets Benn connect solidly on his chin just the once it could be all over. On sheer work rate alone Benn wins the opening round. However, Watson wasn’t completely negative. He managed to sneak in a few punches of his own.
Round two, and Nigel carries on where he’d left off. He really is throwing punches in huge numbers and on a couple of occasions it looks as though Michael might be overwhelmed. But he is boxing a very smart fight. Beforehand, Michael had studied the film of the Ali v Foreman fight from 1974, it is easy to see why. He is in a much similar position to the one Ali
had been in in Zaire. Can he follow in the footsteps of “The Greatest”, and slay a monster when the venom has been significantly reduced from his frightening weaponry? At the moment there is still a long way to go before such a notion looks anywhere near likely. Benn continues in his attempts at tearing Watson’s head off. Michael’s jab is somewhat effective in the second, however, and he again lands a few of his own offensive punches. He is caught with a whipping hook near the end of the round from Benn and the crowd roars even louder. Michael takes the punch well though.
Round three. Watson once again spends a fair amount of time with his back to the ropes but Nigel’s attack does slow to a degree in this session. It simply had to! In an attempt to penetrate Watson’s effective defence Benn fires some lethal looking uppercuts now, which although spectacular, fail to noticeably hurt his man. The fight has already lived up to its potential and there has not yet been a single clinch. The crowd is absolutely loving the all-out aggression of Nigel Benn, while fans of the more sweeter aspects of the science of boxing are appreciating the smart tactics of Michael Watson.
In round four the action turns even more dramatic. Benn continues to stalk Watson, but Michael breaks through to dominate for the first time. Benn’s hands drop in an alarming fashion as he does so and he looks to be hurt. He is backed to the ropes only to come roaring back himself. Was he faking being stunned? No-one is quite sure for the moment. The answer appears to be an affirmative one seconds later though, as Benn’s head starts being bounced around quite noticeably. He is definitely hurt now and Michael opens up some more. But as Nigel is stuck on the ropes he comes back with a screaming left
hook to the head. What a fight! Benn’s raw power and the possibility of it flattening his opponent is holding the crowd spellbound. Yet for the first
time they are not sure who will win the fight. Watson finishes the three
minutes back on the ropes, and the bell ends a truly great round of fighting
action.
In the fifth, with his focus remaining at one hundred percent yet again, Watson sees his man go backwards by his own accord. Ever cautious, he advances, not quite sure what Benn is up to. Even the commentators, Reg Gutteridge and Jim Watt, are unclear as to whether or not Nigel is play acting. In hindsight we know he is not, but though he has been rattled he is still very dangerous. He throws some more eye catching uppercuts, but by this stage in the fight Watson is ready for anything he does. And for the first time Benn looks tired. Can Watson pull of the upset?
The sixth, and as things transpire, last round. It’s a battle of attrition now, as both men have to dig deep. Then, all of a sudden, Benn turns away, cupping his face in a protective manner. He later claims how he had been thumbed, unintentionally, in the eye. It looks as though some of the desire has deserted Nigel. Has he lost the stomach for the fight? He launches one
more, desperate attack, before the shock ending. Watson snaps out some short, seemingly less than devastating punches, before a left jab to Benn’s head drops him. He sags to the canvas, looking incredibly weary, and is counted out in the act of rising. It’s all over! Michael Watson wins by
sixth round count out.
Though the ending may have been disappointing, what with Benn being finished by nothing more than a sharp jab, the fight itself was incredible. The raw action of the early rounds, coupled with the smart boxing ability of Watson throughout, served to produce a domestic classic in Britain. One that still get shown regularly on The Best of British Boxing channel in the U.K The fight was after all, our Hagler v Hearns!
Watson would go on to face the excellent Mike McCallum for the world title, and though he gave his all, he was beaten in the eleventh round. Shortly after would come the two fights with Chris Eubank, the second of which tragically left Michael very seriously injured. Amazingly though, he has managed to make a near miraculous semi-recovery. To the extent that he was able to run the London marathon some time ago! As he bravely tackled his injuries, Michael Watson fought the most courageous fight of his life! God bless him.
As for Nigel, he regrouped and went on to provide Britain with its most exciting fighter from the post-war years.
He and Michael will forever be interlinked though, and today they are friends and respect one another immensely. We in Britain will never forget either of them!