Amir Khan is Watson's New Years Resolution by Mike Bradley Dec 12th 2006

Manchester's Craig Watson has gone public with his New Years resolution and hopes 2007 will bring him a rematch with new IBF continental champion Amir Khan. The pair have fought as amateurs with the decision going the way of the Olympic medallist - although not before Khan was sent to the canvas and Watson believes a rematch would bring a different result. "I want a rematch more than anything," he said. "Both of our careers have shot up, he's had 10 fights and is unbeaten and I'm seven unbeaten. I think I can do the 10 rounds pretty easy, you've just got to put your mind to it and I think I'd be too strong for him in the later rounds, I'd love for him to give me the opportunity to fight him. "I watched Amir's fight [against Drilzane] and thought the kid he boxed was a bit of a handful but Amir boxed well, but I'd like my chance to show my skills now. "But I don't think he'd take it to be honest, I think I'm too strong for him and the people he's fighting have never knocked anyone out in their career or they've been super featherweights and I really think if he gave me a chance that would be his first serious test. "And I really do want a serious test to show my skills and show what I've got. Amir would be tough, he's Olympic silver medallist, world amateur number one but I think I've got the strength and skills. "I'm training with Joe Pennington, a top class trainer. He's put everything he's got into his gym, he's here 24/7 and I think it's the best place to be right now. I started off as an amateur at Fox and when I was a young kid I was at Newton Heath ABC but I've never been to a gym like this in my life." And what would Watson like to see happen in the New Year? "In 12 months hopefully I've got the fight with Amir and then I can step up to the British title, who knows, maybe more." Watson trains under Joe Pennington at the Clayton-based Northside club which has long held a justifiable reputation as producing Manchester's finest amateurs, and now Pennington clearly believes he has a professional champion in the making. "Craig's had seven unbeaten fights and improved every time, got stronger and matured. He's got a lot more experience now than when he first started out as a pro and I think in 12 months he'll have had 18 fights and could be looking at the light-welterweight British title eliminator." But how would he perform against Amir Khan? "Amir's more of a speed merchant so I think Craig would take it easy in the first four rounds then probably get him in the later rounds, fifth, sixth or seventh. After seeing Amir's fight on Saturday and the one before that, he was getting caught a lot so he's well open to the shots. "Craig goes for it, he doesn't hold back and he'd probably catch him and hurt him as well but I think Craig needs about three more fights and then they could fight for Amir's IBF title over 10 rounds. "Craig's done six threes in his last two fights and done them so easy he couldn't believe it. But he spars that much in the ring often for 12, 14 or 15 rounds so he's got that stamina. "He spars with everyone from lightweights to heavyweights, he's very elusive and the ring is only 16 foot so he's not got much room to move so when he gets in a bigger ring he uses it to his advantage and I think that's what pays off. "The last fight he had in Belfast against the Ukranian lad [Rakhim Mingaleev] it was so easy. When I was talking to him in the corner he wasn't even out of breath, he said it was just like sparring. He doesn't get hurt a lot but his main thing is is his defence and strength, he's very strong for the size of him, a 10 stone boxer. I think in 12 months he'll have had 18 fights and then he could be looking at a light-welterweight British title eliminator." Only time will tell.

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.