Warren plans testimonial evening for Watson

Eleven years after sustaining crippling brain damage in a world title bout against Chris Eubank at White Hart Lane, Michael Watson is going to be honoured by his fellow fighters.

Promoter Frank Warren, who is organising the testimonial evening for Watson in London on 8 July, said: "We will be there for the most courageous man in boxing.

Michael is a man who has been to the darkest places you can go and he has come through it. Now we want to show that boxing can give something back to the people, like Michael Watson, who matter."

Warren is hoping Muhammad Ali can attend and help raise a six-figure sum for the Islington fighter hailed as the 'People's Champion', though he never got to wear a world title belt.

Poignantly, Eubank was first in line to book five tables at £1,000 each.