BBN Exclusive - Hayemaker promotions sign up rising lightweight by Mathew Tyrer Jul 30th 2008

Merseyside's promising unbeaten Lightweight stylist John ‘The Hurricane Kid' Watson has been chosen as Hayemaker promotions one and only lightweight prospect to fight under their promotional banner. Watson who had been trying his best not to give too much away about any possible deals over the past few weeks finally signed an initial three year contract with Hayemaker promotions, who are affiliated with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy promotions, on Monday night. Watson now unbeaten in seven pro contests and a former two time ABA champion, spoke exclusively to BritishBoxing.net and BBC Radio Merseyside and told of his delight at the opportunity he had been offered. After Watson himself sought out David Haye he revealed, ‘David Haye got in touch and after a few phone calls Dave Coldwell (of Hayemaker Promotions) came down to watch my last couple of fights and he shown a real interest in me once they found out I never had a promotional contract, then after my last fight (Watson's impressive four round demolition of wildcard puncher Ali Wyatt) we had a meeting and offered me a very interesting deal.' Dave Coldwell seems extremely impressed with the talent Watson clearly has and did not hold back when asked about the scouse stylist, ‘We have got immense hopes for John, he absolutely loves the sport and he lives for it, he's the type of kid we want at Hayemaker.' Speaking about Watson's potential in the lightweight ranks both Watson and Coldwell were keen to state that they meant business and have got some serious goals in their sights which they both deem more than achievable. Watson said ‘I am expecting regular fights on the big television shows and I have been given the dates for my next ten fight, which is superb because you might not get that anywhere else.' ‘Their (Hayemaker) plans are to get me in with John Murray (current British Champion) in the next 12 months and realistically that's what I want.' Coldwell also had no doubt in his mind from a promoter and boxing fans point of view that this is what ‘The Hurricane Kid' should be gunning for, ‘We are going to build him up with educational fights over the next 12 months and then he will be ready to go in at British title level. We look for him to go beyond that level and we want World champions and we see John Watson as a potential World champion and definitely a British champion.' Watson also revealed that another lure to the Hayemaker promotional enterprise was not only the lucrative contract he has now signed but also the connections to Golden Boy Promotions stateside, with Watson revealing, ‘If any lightweights stateside want any sparring there's a possibility that I might get a chance to go over, so that would be a great experience for me and I can only improve from it.' Coldwell went even further to talk about the Golden Boy relationship saying that they had modelled Hayemaker Promotions on the Golden Boy model because of what it offered the boxer. ‘It means fighters are going to be looked after and earn what they are worth. We want boxers to get in, win world titles, make money in the shortest possible time and get out with their faculties intact and a nice bank balance with a bit of financial security.' Clearly then John Watson has it all to prove, and one suspects that the young Liverpudlian has the right team behind him and the right head on his shoulders to achieve the targets that he and Hayemaker Promotions have set. Now seven and ‘0' Watson will be looking to get out and start working towards the titles that he has talked of taking. His slick movement and devastating power punching means that Watson is fully equipped to put his money where his mouth is and with this, the future not only looks bright for him but for Hayemaker promotions who are set to offer British fight fans something totally new, exciting fighters in exciting fights on a consistent level. With Coldwell stating ‘We are not interested in padding kids records out with 20 or 25 and 0 records and not having fought anyone, because you get kids who go up to that level and get beat convincingly and are never the same again.' I for one will be watching with great interest to see how things unfold for Hayemeker promotions but more importantly for lightweight Watson, with an abundance of talent the Merseyside man looks set to make waves in the domestic division and after that who knows?

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