Jim Watt (boxer)

Jim Watt
MBE
Born
James Park Watt

(1948-07-18) 18 July 1948 (age 76)
Glasgow, Scotland
NationalityScottish
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights46
Wins38
Wins by KO27
Losses8

Jim Watt MBE (born 18 July 1948) is a Scottish former boxer and commentator who became world champion in the lightweight division when Roberto Durán left the title vacant in 1979 and the WBC had him fight Alfredo Pitalua. Watt knocked out Pitalua in twelve rounds.[1]

Boxing career

Raised in the Bridgeton[1] and Possilpark[2] neighbourhoods of Glasgow, Watt trained at Cardowan Amateur Boxing Club in the city's Maryhill district.[1] His father died when Jim was five years old.[3] He came to prominence in 1968 by beating John H. Stracey to the ABA Championships; he turned professional immediately afterwards, declining the chance to compete as an amateur at the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City.[1]

Watt beat such notables as future world champion Sean O'Grady, former world champion Perico Fernandez, Charlie Nash and Howard Davis Jr.[1] The fight with O'Grady was particularly controversial: Watt won by a knockout in round twelve when the referee stopped the fight because of a cut suffered by O'Grady. According to the book, The Ring: Boxing The 20th Century, the cut was produced by a head-butt, in which case the judges' scorecards would have been checked, and whoever was ahead given the win by a technical decision, Watt was ahead on all the scorecards.[citation needed] The referee, however, declared that O' Grady's cut had been produced by a punch and Watt officially won the fight by technical knockout.[citation needed]

Watt had also fought, and lost to, Ken Buchanan after 15 rounds in 1973.[1] On 20 June 1981, he fought his last fight, when losing the WBC world Lightweight title to Alexis Argüello by a 15-round decision in London. The three judges' scores were 147–143, 147–143 and 147–137. Watt retired with a record of 38 wins (27 by knockout) and 8 losses (3 by knockout).

After boxing

Watt was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours for services to boxing.[4] He was long-term co-commentator with Reg Gutteridge on ITV's The Big Fight Live and moved with Gutteridge to Sky Sports in 1996 when ITV withdrew from boxing coverage. During 2016, Watt announced his retirement as a boxing commentator.[5]

Watt made a special guest appearance on the BBC's Still Game sitcom in August 2007, as well as television adverts for Kelvin Timber (a Scottish home and building supplies stores company) in the 1980s. He and his family settled in the town of Kirkintilloch to the north of Glasgow.[3]

Personal life

In June 2015, Watt's 38-year-old daughter Michelle Watt took her own life after suffering chronic headaches caused by a spinal operation. She appeared in various programmes as a television hostess, including 60 Minute Makeover. Watt's 17-year-old son James died in a car crash in 1995.[6][3]

Professional boxing record

46 fights 38 wins 8 losses
By knockout 27 3
By decision 11 5
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round(s),
time 		Date Age Location Notes
46 Loss 38–8 Alexis Argüello UD 15 Jun 20, 1981 32 years, 337 days Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K. Lost WBC and The Ring lightweight titles
45 Win 38–7 Sean O'Grady TKO 12 (15), 2:37 Nov 1, 1980 32 years, 106 days Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Retained WBC lightweight title
44 Win 37–7 Howard Davis Jr. UD 15 Jun 7, 1980 31 years, 325 days Ibrox Park, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Retained WBC lightweight title
43 Win 36–7 Charlie Nash TKO 4 (15), 2:10 Mar 14, 1980 31 years, 240 days Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Retained WBC lightweight title
42 Win 35–7 Robert Vasquez TKO 9 (15) Nov 3, 1979 31 years, 108 days Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Retained WBC lightweight title
41 Win 34–7 Alfredo Pitalua TKO 12 (15) Apr 17, 1979 30 years, 273 days Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Won vacant WBC lightweight title
40 Win 33–7 Antonio Guinaldo RTD 5 (15) Oct 18, 1978 30 years, 92 days Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Retained EBU lightweight title
39 Win 32–7 Billy Vivian PTS 8 Jun 12, 1978 29 years, 329 days National Sporting Club, Cafe Royal, Piccadilly, England, U.K.
38 Win 31–7 Perico Fernández UD 15 Feb 17, 1978 29 years, 214 days Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid,
Comunidad de Madrid, Spain 		Retained EBU lightweight title
37 Win 30–7 Jeronimo Lucas TKO 10 (15) Nov 16, 1977 29 years, 121 days Midland Sporting Club, Civic Hall, Solihull,
West Midlands, England, U.K. 		Retained EBU lightweight title
36 Win 29–7 Andre Holyk TKO 1 (15), 1:22 Aug 5, 1977 29 years, 18 days St. Andrew's Sporting Club, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Won vacant EBU lightweight title
35 Win 28–7 Johnny Claydon TKO 10 (15), 2:35 Feb 21, 1977 28 years, 218 days St. Andrews SC, Albany Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Retained BBBofC British lightweight title
34 Win 27–7 Franco Diana TKO 6 (8), 2:50 Oct 12, 1976 28 years, 86 days Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
33 Loss 26–7 Johnny Claydon TKO 3 (8), 0:20 Jun 22, 1976 27 years, 340 days Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
32 Win 26–6 Hector Diaz TKO 4 (10), 1:25 May 10, 1976 27 years, 297 days Hilton Hotel, Mayfair, London, England, U.K.
31 Win 25–6 Jimmy Revie TKO 7 (10), 0:55 Mar 30, 1976 27 years, 256 days Cunard International Hotel, Hammersmith, London, England, U.K.
30 Win 24–6 George Turpin KO 4 (10), 1:55 Mar 2, 1976 27 years, 228 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
29 Loss 23–6 Andre Holyk PTS 12 Oct 31, 1975 27 years, 105 days Lyon, Rhône, France
28 Loss 23–5 Jonathan Dele PTS 15 May 3, 1975 26 years, 289 days National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria For vacant British Empire lightweight title
27 Win 23–4 Billy Waith PTS 10 Mar 19, 1975 26 years, 244 days Hilton Hotel, Mayfair, London, U.K.
26 Win 22–4 John Cheshire TKO 7 (15), 2:25 Jan 27, 1975 26 years, 193 days St. Andrews SC, Albany Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Won vacant BBBofC British lightweight title
25 Loss 21–4 Anthony Morodi PTS 10 Oct 26, 1974 26 years, 100 days Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
24 Win 21–3 Billy Waith PTS 12 Jun 19, 1974 25 years, 336 days Double Diamond Club, Caerphilly, Wales, U.K.
23 Win 20–3 Kokkie Olivier PTS 10 Mar 2, 1974 25 years, 227 days Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
22 Win 19–3 Andries Steyn TKO 7 (10) Feb 16, 1974 25 years, 213 days Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
21 Win 18–3 Angus McMillan PTS 8 Oct 5, 1973 25 years, 79 days St. Andrews SC, Albany Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
20 Win 17–3 Noel McIvor TKO 4 (8) Jun 7, 1973 24 years, 324 days Town Hall, Govan, Scotland, U.K.
19 Win 16–3 John Cheshire PTS 8 May 9, 1973 24 years, 295 days Midland Sporting Club, Civic Hall, Solihull,
West Midlands, England, U.K.
18 Loss 15–3 Ken Buchanan PTS 15 Jan 29, 1973 24 years, 195 days Albany Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. Lost BBBofC British lightweight title
17 Win 15–2 Noel McIvor TKO 3 (10) Dec 11, 1972 24 years, 146 days National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, England, U.K.
16 Win 14–2 Tony Riley TKO 12 (15) May 3, 1972 23 years, 290 days Midlands Sporting Club, Solihull, West Midlands, England, U.K. Won vacant BBBofC British lightweight title
15 Loss 13–2 Willie Reilly TKO 10 (15) Feb 1, 1972 23 years, 198 days Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K. For vacant BBBofC British lightweight title
14 Win 13–1 Leonard Tavarez TKO 9 (10) Nov 1, 1971 23 years, 106 days Cafe Royal, Piccadilly, England, U.K.
13 Win 12–1 Willie Reilly TKO 7 (12) Sep 27, 1971 22 years, 224 days Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K.
12 Win 11–1 Henri Nesi TKO 6 (10) Mar 22, 1971 22 years, 247 days National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, England, U.K.
11 Win 10–1 David Pesenti PTS 8 Jan 11, 1971 22 years, 177 days Great International Sporting Club,
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, U.K.
10 Win 9–1 Ronnie Clifford RTD 4 (8) Dec 1, 1970 22 years, 136 days Town Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire, U.K.
9 Win 8–1 Sammy Lockhart KO 2 (8) Oct 20, 1970 22 years, 94 days Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, England, U.K.
8 Win 7–1 Bryn Lewis TKO 6 (8) Jun 15, 1970 21 years, 332 days Albany Hotel, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K.
7 Win 6–1 Victor Paul TKO 5 (8) Jun 1, 1970 21 years, 318 days Cafe Royal, Piccadilly, England, U.K.
6 Loss 5–1 Victor Paul TKO 6 (8) Feb 16, 1970 21 years, 213 days Cafe Royal, Piccadilly, England, U.K.
5 Win 5–0 Tommy Tiger PTS 8 Nov 24, 1969 21 years, 129 days National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, England, U.K.
4 Win 4–0 Winston Thomas TKO 4 (8), 1:00 Sep 15, 1969 21 years, 59 days World Sporting Club, Mayfair, London, England, U.K.
3 Win 3–0 Victor Paul PTS 8 Apr 10, 1969 20 years, 266 days Town Hall, Govan, Scotland, U.K.
2 Win 2–0 Alex Gibson TKO 2 (6), 2:05 Dec 11, 1968 20 years, 146 days Town Hall, Hamilton, Scotland, U.K.
1 Win 1–0 Santos Martins KO 4 (6) Oct 30, 1968 20 years, 104 days Town Hall, Hamilton, Scotland, U.K.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "A sporting nation: Jim Watt wins world lightweight title 1979". BBC. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Schemes and dreams: Jim Watt". BBC Radio Scotland. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Boxing legend Jim Watt speaks for first time of grief at death of teenage son in car crash". Daily Record. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  4. ^ UK: "No. 48212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1980. p. 17.
  5. ^ "Jim Watt announces retirement as Sky Sports commentator". Sky Sports. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  6. ^ Rozina Sabur (11 October 2015). "TV presenter Michelle Watt took her own life because of chronic headaches her father reveal's". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
Achievements
Vacant
Title last held by
Willie Reilly 		British Lightweight Champion
3 May 1972 – 29 January 1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by WBC Lightweight Champion
17 April 1979 – 20 June 1981 		Succeeded by
The Ring Lightweight Champion
12 April 1981 – 20 June 1981