Boxing board loses appeal

Watson was injured during a fight in 1991

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) faces a financial crisis after losing its court battle with Michael Watson.

The board lost its appeal against a ruling that it is liable for brain damage suffered by fighter Watson nine years ago.

The ruling comes just days after featherweight boxer Paul Ingle was critically injured following his unsuccessful world title bout.

The judgment will come as a relief to former super middle-weight Watson, who is claiming about £1m in compensation.

But it is a worrying development for the ruling bodies of other potentially dangerous sports such as football and rugby.

British boxing must now ensure that Michael receives the compensation he both needs and deserves without further delay

  Solicitor Michael Toohig

Lord Phillips, Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lords Justices May and Laws, said the board was responsible.

The BBBC made provision in its rules for medical precautions to be employed and made compliance with those rules mandatory, the court ruled.

"The board was in a position to determine, and did in fact determine, the measures that were taken in boxing to protect and promote health and safety," said Lord Phillips.

The BBBC has had difficulties paying the compensation claim but Watson's solicitor, Michael Toohig, said they had only themselves to blame for fighting the case.

"It is unfortunate that the board has chosen to spend several hundred thousand pounds on legal fees fighting this case.

"The board now claims a lack of funds and yet there always appears to be plenty of money around in boxing."

Watson receives treatment after collapsing in the ring

Watson, now 35 and present in court in a wheelchair, was struck down at the peak of his career.

His head injuries were sustained during his WBO world championship bout against Chris Eubank in September 1991.

His case led to the introduction of tighter ringside safeguards.

The appeal judges heard that the BBBC-approved doctor who initially attended Watson did not enter the ring quickly enough or have the necessary equipment.

In September last year, a High Court judge ruled that Watson was entitled to damages from the board.

That award was on the grounds that he would have made a good recovery if the doctor had entered the ring immediately.

He said the board was in breach of its duty to Watson in failing to stipulate those ringside safeguards in its rules.

Serious brain damage represented the most serious risk posed by the sport and one that required to be addressed

  Lord Phillips

Lord Phillips rejected argument that the standard of care set by the High Court judge was too high.

He said it was the duty of the BBBC to plan ahead for the most dangerous potential injuries in the sport.

The BBBC was in breach of this, he added, in that it did not earlier institute some such system or protocol as was proposed after the Watson-Eubank fight.

Watson's solicitor said his client boxer hoped those measures would now save Ingle, injured in a Sheffield ring last Saturday.

"At this time Michael's thoughts are with Paul Ingle and his family," added Toohig.