Wesley Watson
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. 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. 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, 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, participated in the Games for non-specified political reasons. Highlights. Unsanctioned match-up (+201 lbs), Howard Career Center, Wilmington, Delaware, 1980: Local match-up (+201 lbs), Charlotte Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina, June 1983 (debut): All-Army Championships (+201 lbs), 1984: United States Armed Forces Championships (+201 lbs), Little Creek, Virginia, November 1984: USA−Argentina Duals (+201 lbs), Maude Cobb Activity Center, Longview, Texas, January 1985: National Championships (+201 lbs), Indianapolis, Indiana, November 1984: USA−USSR Heavy Duals (+201 lbs), Sands Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, October 1985: All-Army  Championships (+201 lbs), 1985: National Championships (+201 lbs), Tulsa, Oklahoma, December 1985: Local match-up (+201 lbs), 1986: National Championships (+201 lbs), Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, April 1986: World Champ Box-offs (+201 lbs), Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, April 1986: District of Columbia Mayor's Cup Invitational Tournament (+201 lbs), Washington, D.C., July 1986: USA−USSR Middle & Heavy Duals (+201 lbs), ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, July 1986: 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.