Everyone knows the current plight of Michael Watson, but the heroics of his fightback from injury were matched by the courage he displayed in the ring.

Watson was the quiet man compared to the flamboyance of the men he fought alongside so memorably, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank.

He was the ultimate professional, a student of the game who knew his boxing history, analysed the styles of the greats and kept himself in peak physical condition.

No-one fancied his chances in the clash with Nigel Benn; the Dark Destroyer was supposed to blast Watson out of the ring.

But Watson surprised everyone with his peek-a-boo style, frustrated a flailing Benn for six rounds before taking out the exhausted Commonwealth champion.

He was again the underdog in the two Eubank fights. Watson's skill and work-rate saw him dominate the first encounter, before he was robbed by a criminal decision on the scorecards.

The second fight followed a similar pattern as he overwhelmed Eubank, dropping him in the 11th, only for the Brighton man to rise from the canvas with that fateful uppercut to Watson's jaw.

A clash between Joe Calzaghe and the Michael Watson who defeated Nigel Benn would be lapped up by the boxing connoisseur.

The two stylists would fight out an intriguing tactical battle, whilst never neglecting to get the hard work done on the inside.

Of all Calzaghe's opponents, perhaps Richie Woodhall is the nearest in style to Watson and an analysis of this fight could suggest the likely outcome of Calzaghe-Watson.

Woodhall competed for 10 high-class rounds against the Welshman, but over the course of the 30 minutes Calzaghe's heavier punching dragged the fight more and more his way until the challenger could take no more.

Watson was a class above Woodhall, but a similar pattern could be expected against Calzaghe. The Welshman takes it in the 10th.