Injury scuppers Watson’s big night

Craig watson: bout off due to shoulder injury

Boxing: CRAIG Watson’s eagerly-anticipated British title eliminator against David Barnes, scheduled for this Saturday in Trafford Park, is off.

The two former British welterweight champions were due to fight in a cracker of a showdown but Failsworth-based Watson (30) has injured a shoulder in training.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” said Watson. “I was really getting pumped up for this fight, and the fans were too.

“I picked up the injury during sparring a while ago, but I felt it go again last week. It’s really swollen.

“I’m in agony with it so there was nothing else I could do. It’s a big blow, but we’ll just have to put the fight to one side for now and reschedule as soon as possible.”

Saturday’s show at Bowlers, now headed by Matthew Hatton, Liam Hanrahan and Liam Conroy, still goes ahead.