Boxing

MICHAEL WATSON today thanks fans around the country who have offered him their love and support over the past 30 years.And he believes the near-fatal brain injury he suffered in his tragic fight with Chris Eubank at White Hart Lane on September 21, 1991, changed boxing for the better.
Michael Watson has thanked fans for their support 30 years after his near-fatal brain injury
The boxing legend works out on the pads after fighting back from the brink
There is no bitterness from Watson, despite being left partially disabled from the fight.
He told SunSport: “My life is full and the British public have been wonderful to me. I can’t have regrets.
“As I said recently, we have to move on and I don’t bear any ill-will towards Chris.
“He apologised to me but he didn’t have to do that. What I am pleased about is that what happened to me that night made everybody take stock and realise that boxing had to be made safer.
“New rules were brought in and we now have all the medical equipment we need at ringside, as well as paramedics and ambulances on stand-by.
“Hopefully, that has prevented other boxers getting more serious injuries.”

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British boxing is unrecognisable from the heartbreaking night Watson’s life was left hanging in the balance.
In 1991, rules and regulations around the sport were so lax that paramedics were not mandatory at shows.
And the lack of security on that fateful evening meant doctors who were inside White Hart Lane in an unofficial capacity were unable to reach the stricken fighter amid the mayhem.
Now, whether in a small hall in Scotland or at an 80,000 Wembley Stadium showdown, every fighter is given world-leading care.
In a normal year, general secretary Robert Smith helps the British Boxing Board of Control run around 300 fights — and he has never been prouder of how our version of the sport is run.
Smith told SunSport: “Any British show must have a fully-trained paramedic with all the resuscitation equipment and the skills to treat a conscious or unconscious patient.
Chris Eubank celebrates victory against Michael Watson in 1991Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Michael Watson suffered an almost fatal brain injury that left his life hanging in the balanceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“There must always be at least two doctors at a show and one must be an anaesthetist.
“Every venue has dedicated medical rooms for manageable issues that don’t require hospital treatment, like cuts.
“Otherwise anyone is taken straight to hospital where we have notified the nearest surgical unit and A&E that there is a show taking place.
“There has been a great amount of change over the years.
“We have far better security now. Boxers used to have their own security teams but we put a stop to that.
“I was told in later years that doctors at White Hart Lane had difficulty getting to Michael because the fans would not let them. Everything has come on leaps and bounds since then.”
The Board — made up of a cross- section of society that includes medical professionals — meets at least once a year to discuss medical advancements.
Smith added: “Something went drastically wrong that night. My job is to make sure anything like that never happens again and that they are given excellent care.”
Eubank has often spoken of the pain that haunts him over the Watson fight — but the pair have since formed a unique bond.
The boxing champ with football legend Teddy Sheringham
Eubank’s boxing ruthlessness was blunted as he wrestled with what he had inflicted on a man in the heat of battle.
But in February the pair were reunited and Eubank tried to explain the factors that lift men like him and Watson above us mere mortals.
Eubank told Piers Morgan: “As soon as you start fighting you’ve got the world looking at you because the first instinct of a man is to protect, that is to fight.
“Whatever your predicament, you can rise. And that’s what we do.”
On that ITV stage, Eubank was pressed on the legacy that night left on him.As he struggled with his words and emotions — a voice from the studio floor spoke up to defend him.
“Let’s move on Chris, it’s all right, it’s OK bruv,” Michael Watson yelled.
“Peace and love. I love you Chris. It’s all in the past. We are born warriors.”
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CANELO ALVAREZ has FINALLY agreed a deal to fight Caleb Plant.The bout will take place on November 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Canelo Alvarez has a chance to become undisputed world champion by beating Caleb Plant
But IBF world champion Plant is undefeated in 21 fights

And it will provide Alvarez, 31, with the opportunity to become the undisputed world champion.
Alvarez holds the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles and will aim to take the IBF belt off Plant.
The Mexican pay-per-view king was involved in negotiations with Plant, 29, in July but the pair failed to agree a deal and the proposed fight was off.
Once that was announced Canelo was rumoured to be considering a move back up to light-heavyweight to fight Dmitry Bivol.
He also had to play down talk of a fight with Jake Paul, stating the YouTuber ‘was not ready’ to fight him.
But a fight with Plant to fully unify the super-middleweight division has also been a big goal for Canelo.

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He said previously: “At the end of the day, this is what I want to do with my career, make history.
“These things, like becoming the first to be the unified champion at 168 pounds, is making history.
“To potentially be one of the few who holds this prestigious honor in any weight class makes me very happy.
“For my country, this would be a huge accomplishment. I want to be remembered as one of the greatest in the history of the sport.”

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OLEKSANDR USYK arrived in London and sent a message to Anthony Joshua ahead of their heavyweight showdown.The former undisputed cruiserweight king will challenge AJ for the unified heavyweight titles on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Oleksandr Usyk had a message for Anthony Joshua after arriving in the UKCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
The Ukrainian jetted to London onboard a private jetCredit: INSTAGRAM@USYKAA
Usyk and his team donned bright turquoise tracksuits for their tripCredit: INSTAGRAM@USYKAA
Usyk, 34, has been prepping for his first crack at heavyweight gold in his homeland of Ukraine, which he left on Monday morning onboard a private plane.
The Cat shared snaps of himself and his team about to board a private jet to Instagram early on Monday.
His entire entourage donned fluorescent turquoise tracksuits for the trip.
The post’s accompanying caption read: “#SpaceX #Jaxet #UsykJoshua.”
The Ukrainian touched down in the UK and delivered a message to AJ, simply saying: “Hello Anthony, I am here.”
Usyk’s clash with Joshua, 31, will be his third outing in the heavyweight division – which he gatecrashed in October 2019.

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But the Olympic gold medallist is more concerned with his son’s first days at school than his bid to become a two-division world champion.
The Cat said: “At the moment I don’t think about Anthony Joshua.
“I don’t think about what he will do, what he will use or how he will box.
“I have a little bit of timing to finish my training camp now, I might think about it then.
“Right now I think more about how my son feels at school because he has just started first grade and he really did not want to go and do it.
“He was saying: ‘I don’t want to go to school, dad. I am bored at school and you’re not there.’
“But everything is fine now, he seems to have calmed down.
“So I probably think more about that than what Anthony Joshua will do in the ring.”
Right now I think more about how my son feels at school because he has just started first grade and he really did not want to go and do it.Oleksandr Usyk on his clash with Anthony Joshua
Usyk cruised to a unanimous decision victory over Derek Chisora in his last outing last November but was less than impressed with his performance.
And the slick southpaw believes Joshua’s team will be in for a rude awakening if they expect an easy win off the back of his last outing.
He said: “I am very grateful to all those that support me and everything else but they expect too much from athletes.
“Some of them very much do not understand what is happening in the ring, how difficult it is or, in some cases, how easy it is.

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“People just have an image that they think up.
“The fact is I boxed Derek for 12 rounds but he is actually a very difficult guy to beat.
“If you look at his two fights with Tyson Fury then he has gone 22 rounds with him.”

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ANTHONY JOSHUA’S promoter Eddie Hearn claims Evander Holyfield’s comeback fight against Vitor Belfort left him feeling ‘disgusted’.Five-time world champion Holyfield donned his boxing gloves at the age of 58 earlier this month to fight MMA legend Belfort, stepping in as a replacement for Covid-hit Oscar De La Hoya.
Eddie Hearn is the latest boxing figure to criticise Evander Holyfield’s comeback at 58Credit: Getty
Hearn said he was ‘disgusted’ watching Holyfield’s farcical defeat to Vitor BelfortCredit: PA
However, Holyfield’s comeback lasted less than two minutes as Belfort overpowered him immediately.
Upset fans labelled the fight as ‘one of the saddest events’ in history, with many claiming it was dangerous to let retired Holyfield compete at such short notice.
UFC supremo Dana White later came out to brand the event ‘silly’, criticising those who chose to pay to watch the Triller event.
And Ricky Hatton also called for an investigation, telling organisers to ‘hang your heads in shame’.
Boxing promoter Hearn has now joined in the criticism, claiming the fight would never have been sanction in Britain.
And AJ’s right-hand man adds he was left ‘disgusted’ by the decision to allow ‘unfit’ Holyfield to fight.

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Hearn told DAZN: “YouTube boxing is one thing, I don’t mind what Jake Paul’s doing.
“I respect what Jake Paul is doing because one, he’s putting the work in.
“Two, he’s not fighting boxing-based fighters.
“And three, he’s promoting the shows, it’s different.
“Holyfield is not a young YouTuber in a training camp, going out and fighting an MMA guy.

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“This is a guy that is not medically fit to have a fight. For the commission, who we worked with in Florida before, to allow that to happen?
“I’ll tell you right now, there is absolutely no way the British Boxing Board of Control would even consider allowing that fight to happen.
“They could have done six rounds. What we saw, it actually disgusted me.”
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MANNY PACQUIAO revealed he once considered ending his own life after ‘repenting for his sins’.The boxing legend opened up in a revealing interview after announcing his bid to run for President of the Philippines.
Manny Pacquiao revealed he considered ending his own lifeCredit: YouTube
The now-retired boxing legend opened up about the time he was fighting in America and felt ‘small’ and ‘alone’Credit: AP
Pacquiao is one of the best boxers of all time and adored by fans all over the world.
But the 42-year-old revealed the time he once felt ‘small’ and ‘alone’ and considered suicide.
Speaking to ToniTalks about his Christian faith, Pacquiao said: “I was alone in my room in America for a fight.
“I was reading this book called Purpose-Driven Life and I would read the Bible too.
“I felt like ending my life that moment because I was repenting for my sins. I was alone in my room and I was crying uncontrollably.
“I asked myself what I should do. ‘Lord am I not worthy?’ If I could just turn back time and undo all I’ve done against you.”

The former world champion continued: “I used to be a womaniser, a drunkard, a gambler – all of those. And the words that came out of my mouth were ill-willed.
“I felt small. I was on my knees, face to the ground, while I was alone.
“After that I called for a Bible study.
“When I hear the word of God I feel so happy.”
Pacquiao recently announced his retirement from boxing as he bids to become President of the Philippines.
When asked about his fighting days, he said: “My boxing career is already over.
“It’s done because I’ve been in boxing for a long time and my family says that it is enough.
“I just continued because I’m passionate about this sport. I will just support other boxers for us to have a champion again.”
Pacman lost to Yordenis Ugas in August in what would prove to be his last fightCredit: Reuters
He is now trying to become President of the PhilippinesCredit: AFP
Pacquiao, 42, was last in action in August against Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas.
The pride of the Philippines suffered a unanimous decision defeat to the Olympic silver medallist and hinted that his fighting days would soon come to an end.
In the post-fight press conference, a heartbroken Pacquiao said: “In the future, you may not see Manny Pacquiao fight again in the ring.
“I don’t know. But for how many decades, I’m so happy with what I’ve done in boxing.
“I contribute a record in boxing also and to make boxing the top. And especially bring honour to my country and the Filipino people.
“I’m so proud to be a Filipino and thankful to all the fans all over the world.”
The soft-spoken power puncher won 62 of the 72 bouts in his professional career, which he began at the tender age of 16.
Pacquiao’s days fighting in the ring may be over, but the fight to bring change in Rodrigo Duterte’s Philippines has just begun.
He said: “I am a fighter, and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring.
“I am accepting your nomination as candidate for president of the Republic of the Philippines.”
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