Wesley Watson

Wesley Page Watson Jr. is a retired American heavyweight boxer best known for his successful amateur boxing career.

Early years

Watson 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.
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.

Military service

Wesley Watson started boxing while serving in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Fort Bragg and 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, 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, participated in the Games for non-specified political reasons.

Highlights

Unsanctioned match-up, Howard Career Center, Wilmington, Delaware, 1980:

Lost to Arthur Carter

Local match-up, Charlotte Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina, June 1983 :

Defeated ? by split decision, 3–2

All-Army Championships, 1984:
*
United States Armed Forces Championships, Little Creek, Virginia, November 1984:
*
USA−Argentina Duals, Maude Cobb Activity Center, Longview, Texas, January 1985:

Defeated Juan Antonio Díaz KO 1

National Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana, November 1984:

1/2: Lost to Nathaniel Fitch by majority decision, 1−4

USA−USSR Heavy Duals, Sands Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, October 1985:

Defeated Valeriy Abadzhyan RSCI 2

All-Army Championships, 1985:
*
United States Armed Forces Championships, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, November 1985:
*
National Championships, Tulsa, Oklahoma, December 1985:

1/2: Defeated Kevin Ford RSC 2
Finals: Defeated Sinclair Babb by unanimous decision, 5–0

Local match-up, 1986:

Defeated Alex García by split decision, 3–2

National Championships, Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, April 1986:

1/2: Defeated George Kilbert Pierce DQ 3
Finals: Lost to Alex García by majority decision, 1−4

World Champ Box-offs, Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, April 1986:

Finals: Lost to Alex García RSC 2

District of Columbia Mayor's Cup Invitational Tournament, Washington, D.C., July 1986:

Defeated Anthony Green KO 2

USA−USSR Middle & Heavy Duals, ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, July 1986:

Lost to Aleksandr Miroshnichenko KO 1

Watson finished his amateur career with a record of 42 wins, 7 losses. He was rated the #1 American amateur superheavyweight by the United States [Amateur Boxing Federation] in February 1987. 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.