Watson happier heavier
ENGLISH champion Brad Watson will step it up this year – in both weight class and competitive ambitions – with a new Goodwin Boxing deal.
The 28-year-old ‘Glamour Boy’ knocked out Loua Nassa last February to seal the English super-flyweight title, but has since vacated this title as he joins forces with Steve Goodwin as a bantamweight fighter.
‘He’s one of the best managers and promoters in boxing in Britain at the moment – he’s won an award for best promoter and links up with all the top promoters like Eddie Hearn,’ said Watson regarding Goodwin.
‘It’s good to be be part of a good team to keep me pushing.’
Watson has been inactive since his English triumph but will make his comeback on 16 March at the Crunch Time show at York Hall, London. A proposed show in Guernsey during September is another exciting prospect.
Much is still yet to be announced but the determined fighter seeks – somewhere along the line – an English bantamweight title.
‘If I win that, I’ll be a two-weight English champion – that’s one route I could go down,’ he said.
‘That would be massive for me, I have already done something not many Channel Islanders before have done and to go and do it again would just prove what I’m capable of.’
Watson, who is also considering ‘the Commonwealth route’, feels that upgrading from super-flyweight will make him a stronger and healthier fighter.
‘I’m 5’10, pushing six foot – I should not be making that weight class,’ added Watson, who often faces considerably shorter opponents.
‘People struggle to make that weight at 5’5... I’m walking around at 10 stone and I used to be walking around at nine, so it was not good for my health.
‘I’m going for the next weight up, which is 8st 6lb – it might not sound like much but the extra kilo and a half makes a huge difference.’
Meanwhile, the proud Guernseyman hopes for a strong backing as one of our three CI Sports Awards nominees.
Le Poullain returns to ring Page 27
