Jim Watt (boxer)

Template:Short description Template:BLP sources Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox boxer 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.<ref name=BBC79/>

Boxing career

Raised in the Bridgeton<ref name=BBC79/> and Possilpark<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> neighbourhoods of Glasgow, Watt trained at Cardowan Amateur Boxing Club in the city's Maryhill district.<ref name=BBC79>Template:Cite web</ref> His father died when Jim was five years old.<ref name=grief/> 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.<ref name=BBC79/>

Watt beat such notables as future world champion Sean O'Grady, former world champion Perico Fernandez, Charlie Nash and Howard Davis Jr.<ref name=BBC79/> 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. The referee, however, declared that O' Grady's cut had been produced by a punch and Watt officially won the fight by technical knockout.Template:Citation needed

Watt had also fought, and lost to, Ken Buchanan after 15 rounds in 1973.<ref name=BBC79/> 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.<ref>UK: Template:London Gazette</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=grief/>

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.<ref name="telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=grief>Template:Cite news</ref>

Professional boxing record

Template:Abbr	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round(s), time	Date	Age	Location	Notes
46	Template:No2Loss	38–8	Alexis Argüello	UD	15	Jun 20, 1981	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
45	Template:Yes2Win	38–7	Sean O'Grady	TKO	12 (15), Template:Small	Nov 1, 1980	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
44	Template:Yes2Win	37–7	Howard Davis Jr.	UD	15	Jun 7, 1980	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
43	Template:Yes2Win	36–7	Charlie Nash	TKO	4 (15), Template:Small	Mar 14, 1980	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
42	Template:Yes2Win	35–7	Robert Vasquez	TKO	9 (15)	Nov 3, 1979	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
41	Template:Yes2Win	34–7	Alfredo Pitalua	TKO	12 (15)	Apr 17, 1979	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
40	Template:Yes2Win	33–7	Antonio Guinaldo	RTD	5 (15)	Oct 18, 1978	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
39	Template:Yes2Win	32–7	Billy Vivian	PTS	8	Jun 12, 1978	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
38	Template:Yes2Win	31–7	Perico Fernández	UD	15	Feb 17, 1978	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
37	Template:Yes2Win	30–7	Jeronimo Lucas	TKO	10 (15)	Nov 16, 1977	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
36	Template:Yes2Win	29–7	Andre Holyk	TKO	1 (15), Template:Small	Aug 5, 1977	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
35	Template:Yes2Win	28–7	Johnny Claydon	TKO	10 (15), Template:Small	Feb 21, 1977	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
34	Template:Yes2Win	27–7	Franco Diana	TKO	6 (8), Template:Small	Oct 12, 1976	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
33	Template:No2Loss	26–7	Johnny Claydon	TKO	3 (8), Template:Small	Jun 22, 1976	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
32	Template:Yes2Win	26–6	Hector Diaz	TKO	4 (10), Template:Small	May 10, 1976	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
31	Template:Yes2Win	25–6	Jimmy Revie	TKO	7 (10), Template:Small	Mar 30, 1976	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
30	Template:Yes2Win	24–6	George Turpin	KO	4 (10), Template:Small	Mar 2, 1976	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
29	Template:No2Loss	23–6	Andre Holyk	PTS	12	Oct 31, 1975	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
28	Template:No2Loss	23–5	Jonathan Dele	PTS	15	May 3, 1975	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
27	Template:Yes2Win	23–4	Billy Waith	PTS	10	Mar 19, 1975	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
26	Template:Yes2Win	22–4	John Cheshire	TKO	7 (15), Template:Small	Jan 27, 1975	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
25	Template:No2Loss	21–4	Anthony Morodi	PTS	10	Oct 26, 1974	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
24	Template:Yes2Win	21–3	Billy Waith	PTS	12	Jun 19, 1974	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
23	Template:Yes2Win	20–3	Kokkie Olivier	PTS	10	Mar 2, 1974	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
22	Template:Yes2Win	19–3	Andries Steyn	TKO	7 (10)	Feb 16, 1974	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
21	Template:Yes2Win	18–3	Angus McMillan	PTS	8	Oct 5, 1973	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
20	Template:Yes2Win	17–3	Noel McIvor	TKO	4 (8)	Jun 7, 1973	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
19	Template:Yes2Win	16–3	John Cheshire	PTS	8	May 9, 1973	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
18	Template:No2Loss	15–3	Ken Buchanan	PTS	15	Jan 29, 1973	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
17	Template:Yes2Win	15–2	Noel McIvor	TKO	3 (10)	Dec 11, 1972	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
16	Template:Yes2Win	14–2	Tony Riley	TKO	12 (15)	May 3, 1972	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
15	Template:No2Loss	13–2	Willie Reilly	TKO	10 (15)	Feb 1, 1972	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
14	Template:Yes2Win	13–1	Leonard Tavarez	TKO	9 (10)	Nov 1, 1971	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
13	Template:Yes2Win	12–1	Willie Reilly	TKO	7 (12)	Sep 27, 1971	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
12	Template:Yes2Win	11–1	Henri Nesi	TKO	6 (10)	Mar 22, 1971	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
11	Template:Yes2Win	10–1	David Pesenti	PTS	8	Jan 11, 1971	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
10	Template:Yes2Win	9–1	Ronnie Clifford	RTD	4 (8)	Dec 1, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
9	Template:Yes2Win	8–1	Sammy Lockhart	KO	2 (8)	Oct 20, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
8	Template:Yes2Win	7–1	Bryn Lewis	TKO	6 (8)	Jun 15, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
7	Template:Yes2Win	6–1	Victor Paul	TKO	5 (8)	Jun 1, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
6	Template:No2Loss	5–1	Victor Paul	TKO	6 (8)	Feb 16, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
5	Template:Yes2Win	5–0	Tommy Tiger	PTS	8	Nov 24, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
4	Template:Yes2Win	4–0	Winston Thomas	TKO	4 (8), Template:Small	Sep 15, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
3	Template:Yes2Win	3–0	Victor Paul	PTS	8	Apr 10, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
2	Template:Yes2Win	2–0	Alex Gibson	TKO	2 (6), Template:Small	Dec 11, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
1	Template:Yes2Win	1–0	Santos Martins	KO	4 (6)	Oct 30, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small

See also

• List of British lightweight boxing champions
• List of lightweight boxing champions
• List of WBC world champions

External links

• Template:Scottish Sports Hall of Fame
• Template:Boxrec

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