Jim Watt defended his WBC lightweight world title against Charlie Nash over 15 rounds
Date: March 14, 1980
Venue: Kelvin Hall, Glasgow
Watt stance: southpaw
Nash stance: southpaw
Jim Watt MBE turned pro in 1968, shortly after beating future welterweight world champion John Stracey in the ABA finals of that year. After losing inside three rounds to unfancied Johhny Claydon, it seemed Watt was destined to be yet another journeyman unable to win the big fights. But then Watt went on a ten fight winning streak that saw him win the British lightweight title (in a rematch with Claydon), and then the European title, and then the WBC world title.
Watt enjoyed home advantage at the raucous Kelvin Hall in Glasgow when he beat Alfredo Pitalua by TKO in the 12 round for the WBC strap (vacated by Roberto Duran). His first defence, against Robert Vasquez, was at the same venue, and this time he won in nine rounds.
Charlie Nash turned pro in 1975 because he couldn't afford to remain in the amateur ranks (he made it to the quarter finals of the 1972 Olympics in Munich). When Watt vacated his British crown, Nash won the vacant title. The same happened with Watt's European belt. For a while, it seemed inevitable these two rivals would slug it out, but then Nash's manager, Jack Solomon died early in 1980. Mickey Duff became Nash's new manager and rescued this world title fight. What made this rivalry especially tense was the fact that Nash was from Derry - a predominantly Catholic city in Northern Ireland, while Watt was from Glasgow, a city notorious for feuding between Protestants and Catholics.
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Jim Watt - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9526
Charlie Nash - https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/22358
Date: March 14, 1980
Venue: Kelvin Hall, Glasgow
Watt stance: southpaw
Nash stance: southpaw
Jim Watt MBE turned pro in 1968, shortly after beating future welterweight world champion John Stracey in the ABA finals of that year. After losing inside three rounds to unfancied Johhny Claydon, it seemed Watt was destined to be yet another journeyman unable to win the big fights. But then Watt went on a ten fight winning streak that saw him win the British lightweight title (in a rematch with Claydon), and then the European title, and then the WBC world title.
Watt enjoyed home advantage at the raucous Kelvin Hall in Glasgow when he beat Alfredo Pitalua by TKO in the 12 round for the WBC strap (vacated by Roberto Duran). His first defence, against Robert Vasquez, was at the same venue, and this time he won in nine rounds.
Charlie Nash turned pro in 1975 because he couldn't afford to remain in the amateur ranks (he made it to the quarter finals of the 1972 Olympics in Munich). When Watt vacated his British crown, Nash won the vacant title. The same happened with Watt's European belt. For a while, it seemed inevitable these two rivals would slug it out, but then Nash's manager, Jack Solomon died early in 1980. Mickey Duff became Nash's new manager and rescued this world title fight. What made this rivalry especially tense was the fact that Nash was from Derry - a predominantly Catholic city in Northern Ireland, while Watt was from Glasgow, a city notorious for feuding between Protestants and Catholics.
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Jim Watt - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9526
Charlie Nash - https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/22358
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