The BBC's Bob Sinkinson: "Watson will need life long care"

Boxing chiefs owed him a "duty of care" to provide medical staff with the training and equipment to resuscitate him, the High Court was told.

Mr Watson, who will need life-long care after the 1991 fight with Chris Eubank, wants compensation from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC). He is said to be seeking about �1m, a sum that could put the organisation in serious financial trouble.

Knocked down

Mr Watson, 34, had to have emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain after the super middle-weight contest at White Hart Lane, in north London.

Mr Watson, of Chingford, east London, sat at the front of the courtroom in a wheelchair as his counsel, Colin MacKay QC, told the judge most observers had Mr Watson winning on points and "sensationally" at the end of the 11th round, Eubank was knocked down for a few seconds.

He got up and "landed a heavy blow on Watson which knocked him down".

Michael Watson is said to be seeking around �1m compensation

Mr Watson was then "to an extent saved by the bell".

He was able to walk back to his corner and converse sensibly with his trainer in the interval between the 11th and final 12th round.

Mr Watson came out for the last round, but he was unable to defend himself and after about 26 seconds the referee "quite correctly" stopped the fight.

"What happened then was that after about one minute Watson collapsed and became unconscious."

Injury compensation

He, Nigel Benn and Eubank "were three British fighters who were at the top of their profession at middle-weight", said Mr McKay.

"If he had been in receipt of proper attention in the ring in the minutes that followed his collapse and again during his subsequent transfer to hospital, he would not have sustained the brain damage that he now has and as a matter of probability he would have made a complete recovery with the exception that he would never have been a professional boxer again".

Mr Watson is claiming compensation for his injury and losses, including his career.

Mr Justice Ian Kennedy is being asked to decide only the issue of liability - not damages - at this stage.