Wesley Watson

Last updated
Wesley Watson
Born(1962-09-16)September 16, 1962
DiedJanuary 4, 2021(2021-01-04) (aged 58)
Boxing career
Years active
  • 1987–1990
  • 1995–1996
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight

Wesley Page Watson Jr. (born September 16, 1962, in Bristol, Tennessee, died January 4, 2021, in Wilmington, Delaware). He was an American heavyweight boxer best known for his successful amateur boxing career.

Contents

Early years

Watson, former Howard Career Center and Dickinson High basketballer, fought of Wilmington, Delaware. He played three years of varsity basketball at Howard before transferring to Dickinson High his senior year, where he was a starter on 'Coach Jim Realer's Rams. Watson never fought officially before he joined the military in August 1981, two months after he graduated from Dickinson. "I first started boxing in April 1983," said Watson in an interview. Though his actual first fight appeared to be an unsanctioned fight against fellow Howard teammate named Arthur Carter, for which they both were being detained in the school disciplinarian's office. Lee Roy DeShazor, school disciplinarian, told, "When I walked into Lee Roy's office and saw Watson crying, I was completely shocked, and also a little disappointed," said Lee, never dreaming that a few years later Wesley Watson would surface as a national, amateur, super heavyweight boxing champion. [1]

Charlie Messina, fight promoter manager, said Watson lived on Washington Street before joining the Army. "I remember he came to the West Center City Community Center one night and sparred against Henry Milligan," Messina said. [2]

Military service

Wesley Watson started boxing while serving in the U.S. Army, he was stationed in Fort Bragg, his latest military rank was corporal.

Amateur career

Watson became the 1985 U.S. Army and inter-service super heavyweight champion, 1985 National AAU Super Heavyweight Champion (201 lbs. or more), representing the Army. He qualified to the All-American Boxing Team by the United States Amateur Boxing Committee. Watson qualified for the 1986 Goodwill Games, but neither he nor the remaining eight Army boxers, who qualified for the U.S. Goodwill Team, [3] participated in the Games for non-specified political reasons.

Highlights

Watson finished his amateur career with a record of 42 wins, 7 losses. [4] He was rated the #1 American amateur superheavyweight by the United States Amateur Boxing Federation in February 1987. [5] He turned pro soon after being discharged from the Army.

Professional career

Watson turned pro in 1987 and won his first 10 bouts before stepping up in class and losing to Bernardo Mercado in 1988. After another string of victories he faced Michael Dokes but lost via third-round TKO. In December 1989, he fought an exhibition against Gerry Cooney. In his next fight he was TKO'd by Ray Mercer and retired. He returned to the sport five years later but retired again after two victories.

Professional boxing record

17 Wins (13 knockouts, 4 decisions), 3 Losses (3 knockouts, 0 decisions)
ResultOpp RecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Win4-12 Flag of the United States.svg Dwayne HallTKO116 Apr 1996 Flag of the United States.svg Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Win3-11 Flag of the United States.svg William "Gladiator" CampudaniKO119 Dec 1995 Flag of the United States.svg Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Loss12-0 Flag of the United States.svg "Merciless" Ray Mercer TKO515 Jan 1990 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 0:44 of the fifth round.
Loss38-2-2 Flag of the United States.svg Michael "Dynamite" Dokes TKO324 Aug 1989 Flag of the United States.svg New York City, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:25 of the third round.
Windebut Flag of the United States.svg Anthony GreenKO112 Jun 1989 Flag of the United States.svg Erlanger, Kentucky, United States
Win0-4 Flag of the United States.svg Randy DavisKO222 May 1989 Flag of the United States.svg Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States
Win3-17 Flag of the United States.svg James HollyKO213 May 1989 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Win25-15 Flag of the United States.svg Danny SuttonPTS1024 Mar 1989 Flag of the United States.svg Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Win3-25 Flag of the United States.svg Larry GivensUD812 Nov 1988 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Loss32-4 Flag of Colombia.svg Bernardo Mercado TKO113 Aug 1988 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Win1-6 Flag of the United States.svg John "The Salt" MortonPTS1023 Jul 1988 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Win10-24-1 Flag of the United States.svg Frankie HinesTKO125 Jun 1988 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Win0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Calvin "Concrete" JonesTKO216 Jan 1988 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:27 of the second round.
Win0-7 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff BurgTKO128 Nov 1987 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Win1-5 Flag of the United States.svg "Mean" Joe AdamsTKO319 Nov 1987 Flag of the United States.svg Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win1-0 Flag of the United States.svg Darryl RouseTKO429 Sep 1987 Flag of the United States.svg Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win4-15-1 Flag of the United States.svg Wesley SmithPTS619 Sep 1987 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
Win0-4 Flag of the United States.svg Ray SimsTKO224 Aug 1987 Flag of the United States.svg Louisville, Kentucky, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of the second round.
Win0-3 Flag of the United States.svg Mark "The Spark" GreenKO111 Jul 1987 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States
WindebutTroy WhiteheadKO19 May 1987 Flag of the United States.svg Bristol, Tennessee, United States

References

  1. Watson met his match in Delaware, The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware, December 22, 1985, p. 43.
  2. Fighting for the U.S. Army, The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware, November 7, 1984, C8.
  3. Goodwill Boxers, Wilson Daily Times, July 3, 1986, p. 16.
  4. Salesianum turns back Wilmington, The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware, January 18, 1987, p. 50.
  5. USAABF Amateur boxing ratings, Lowell Sun, February 23, 1987, p. 23.
Preceded by United States Amateur Super Heavyweight Champion
1985
Succeeded by