Jim Watt former 1979 WBC lightweight World champion SIGNED promotional 5" x 3 1/2" photo.

Condition mint

Price: £ SOLD

Jim Watt (born 18 July 1948) from Scotland, who became world champion in the lightweight division when Roberto Duran left the title vacant in 1979 and the WBC had him fight Alfredo Pitalua. Watt knocked out Pitalua in twelve rounds.

Watt beat such notables as future world champion Sean O'Grady, former world champion Perico Fernandez, Charlie Nash and Howard Davis Jr.. 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. The referee, however, declared that O' Grady's cut had been produced by a punch, therefore, Watt officially won the fight by knockout. When O'Grady won the WBA title four months later Watt was declared lightweight champion by The Ring.

Watt also fought, and lost to, Ken Buchanan. On 20 June 1981, he fought his last fight, when losing the WBC world Lightweight title to Alexis Arguello by a 15 round decision in London. Watt retired with a record of 38 wins (27 by knockout) and 8 losses (3 by knockout).

After Boxing
Watt is, alongside former world Middleweight champion Alan Minter, a guest dinner speaker and autograph signer, and he was given an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. 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. As of 2009, he is still with Sky as a co-commentator and analyst.