Inspirational boxer Michael Watson walking miracle mile for 60th birthday – 34 years after Chris Eubank fight tragedy
MICHAEL WATSON is walking another miracle mile to celebrate his 60th birthday.
The British ring legend suffered catastrophic brain injuries in his 1991 super-middleweight world title loss to Chris Eubank Sr.
Dr Peter Hamlyn saved his life with emergency surgery that night and has remained by his side ever since.
In 2003 the inspirational pair completed the 26-mile London marathon, over six hard days with a support bus to sleep on between shifts.
Now, on Wednesday April 16, at the National Police Memorial in St James’ Park on the Mall, the pair will once again hit the streets at 1pm to raise money for The Brain and Spine Foundation.
Watson – whose spirit and strength is staggering to spend a single second around – hopes his fans will help get him over the line again, especially after he hit 60 on March 15.
He told SunSport: “I am absolutely looking forward to the mile because I love a challenge.
“It’s Peter’s fault I have been roped into it again, he challenged me to do it for the Brain and Spine foundation and, stupidly, I said ‘yes’.
“I would do anything for him, because I class this man as my hero.
“Seeing my fans, who have always supported me so much, will be a big push to get it done too.
“That will be the energy and the will to keep pushing on, every little bit helps and hearing my fans cheering me, that will spur me on and get me over the line.
“I never made it to world champion but my fans regard me as one.”
Eubank Sr was at the end of the line in 2003 to celebrate his friend’s unfathomable achievement.
And he was at Watson’s recent milestone birthday party, where he gifted him a Rolex watch.
It was another touching moment shared between the pair, after the tragedy that befell them both on that haunting night at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane stadium.
Incredibly Watson – flanked by marvellous carer Haroun Topalak, devoted friend and PR star Geraldine Davies and Dr Hamlyn – feels happier now than he did when he was a prime prize fighter and he wants to thank British boxing fans for that.
Watson said: “Chris has true love and respect for me.
“Chris is a good soul, he is a very emotional man and he has a lot of respect for me.
“I still feel like the boxing community is in my corner and I have great people around me.
“I still feel like my fans are there for me, when I see anybody in the street, they still call me ‘Champ’.
“I feel so privileged to be English because I feel so loved by my fans, the English people make me feel like the peoples’ champion and that I am in their hearts and that will never fade away.
“British boxing fans make me feel so appreciated and it makes me feel overwhelmed and blessed to be who I am.
“From where I have come from, I am a miracle. My life has been amazing because of the people I have around me.
“I am living my purpose on this earth.
“I have been through a grueling process but I believe in a higher power and that everything happens for a reason.
“When I was in the limelight I was troubled and not at peace, I was lost.
“But now I am at peace and I am happy and content, I am at peace.”
I feel so privileged to be English because I feel so loved by my fans
Michael Watson
Incredible neurosurgeon Dr Hamlyn operated on Watson after horrific delays in getting him medical attention.
And he was by his bedside for the 40-day coma he faced and the six-years he spent in a wheelchair.
The duo will walk the mile together again and Hamlyn continues to be amazed by the physical recovery and mental fortitude Watson continues to show.
Dr Hamyln said: “Michael is truly amazing. I have never seen a man survive that type of injury.
“He faced year after year of struggles and showed incredible determination.
“What you see now is a laughing, walking, talking, laughing joking guy.
“But he went through an appalling ordeal and he only got through it thanks to his own incredible determination.
“And one day, when I asked him why he kept helping me do things for the charity, he said: ‘to help people less fortunate than me’.
“And that blew me away, he is just different.”
The Brain and Spine Foundation also have 50 runners doing the full 26-mile London Marathon, with Watson a team captain.
Queensberry’s hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren has generously donated £25,000 for the cause and more donations can be made here.