Boxing Memorabilia > Boxing Autographs >
Michael Watson Boxing Autograph
A great 8x10 Action photograph featuring a
great boxing autograph from Michael Watson. Signed by Michael
Watson at the British Boxing Awards.
Michael Watson
SOLD
On April 14, 1990, he received his first world title try,
when he challenged WBA world champion Mike McCallum , losing
by a twelve round decision.
After three more wins, he was given a second world title
try, on June 22, 1991, against WBO world champion Chris
Eubank. Watson lost a close bout by twelve round decision,
and many fans and critics thought that he should have been
crowned world champion that night, so the WBO ordered an
immediate rematch.
His rematch with Eubank, held on September 21, 1991, would
turn out to be a turning point for Watson's life. It has
been called one of the most brutal fights in British boxing
history. After dropping Eubank in round eleven, Watson seemed
confident that victory was his. However, Eubank, probably
feeling desperate to retain his title, landed a punch to
Watson's chin just as that same round ended and Watson fell.
Watson did not recuperate completely from this punch before
the next round began. Eubank felt he was behind on points
and needed a knockout, so he proceeded to punish Watson
along the ropes. After the fight was stopped by the referee,
chaos ensued because Watson suddenly collapsed inside the
ring.
In need of quick medical help, he faced some dire moments:
there was no ambulance or paramedics at the event's site,
and Watson went 30 minutes without oxygen, finally being
put on an oxygen mask after an ambulance had been rushed
from a nearby hospital. These 30 minutes without oxygen
proved vital in the outcome of Watson's future, and he spent
40 days in a coma. It is believed that the 30 minutes Watson
spent without oxygen are among the largest amount of time
that a person has gone without oxygen and survived in history.
Chris Eubank himself was affected after this: he went on
to be defeated by Steve Collins a couple of years later,
and he went through hard emotional times, as many boxers
do after these types of boxing accidents, as reflected by
his win-loss record after the second fight with Watson.
Watson woke up from his coma, but even then, his prognosis
was not good. His neurosurgeon was afraid Watson would never
speak or walk again. He spent many years at the hospital,
slowly recovering some of his movements, and regaining the
ability to eat regular food, read, and write simple notes.
Still, in 1999, his neurosurgeon wrote that Watson would
never be able to walk again.
Soon after, the doctor's prognosis began to change, as
Watson started getting off bed and was able to begin walking
theraphy. But his doctor was still a little negative: He
said that Watson would have a hard time walking half the
distance of a room.
On April 19, 2003, Michael Watson made headlines and became
an instant national hero in England, when he was able to
complete, after 6 days, the London Marathon. Finishing the
race by his side were Chris Eubank and his neurosurgeon,
who has become a personal friend of his.
