WATT UNDERSTANDS ABELYAN ‘MIND GAME’

sportinglife.com, UK
June 18 2004

Scots boxing legend Jim Watt claims William Abelyan is trying to put
pressure on the judges by hinting he could suffer from a home-town
decision in his challenge for Scott Harrison’s WBO world featherweight
title.

The former WBC lightweight champion will be commentating at ringside
when Harrison defends his title against the American-based Armenian
in front of 6,000 at the Braehead Arena.

However, Watt pointed to Manuel Medina’s points win over Harrison
a year ago when he took the title from the Cambuslang man – before
losing it in the rematch – as proof that the challenger will get a
fair crack of the whip.

He said: “One of the things the Abelyan camp are worrying about is
not getting the verdict if they win.

“But Medina has proved you can come away from Braehead with a verdict
and the official who voted for Scott that night has virtually been
told he’s not welcome back in the country to officiate again – which
is right because Medina won the fight, no question of that.

“But I think it’s a wee bit of gamesmanship from Abelyan’s camp,
maybe trying to put pressure on the judges.

“I saw Bernard Hopkins doing that a couple of weeks ago and it worked
for him so it may be the same thing from Abelyan.”

Watt insists the fear of another loss in front of his own fans and
the repercussions in terms of Harrison’s career, will be a driving
force for the Glaswegian.

He said: “Defeat would be a total disaster for Scott because Abelyan
is the number one contender and he won’t get a rematch.

“If Abelyan leaves town with the title then he doesn’t have to come
back and Scott is back in the queue.

“He’ll have to start facing people like Injin Chi and Juan Manuel
Marquez, who are tougher routes to a title than Abelyan so Scott will
be aware of that.”

Watt admits the assured looking challenger is unlikely to be unnerved
by taking on Harrison in front of his own fans but the former world
champion expects the Cambuslang man to win through in the end.

He said: “I don’t think he’ll be affected by nerves, he seems to have
a fairly cool head so although boxing at home will be a big advantage
for Scott I don’t think it will trouble Abelyan too much.

“I see it as a tough match, Abelyan can box with different styles,
he’s not one dimensional.

“But Scott has all the physical advantages so I don’t expect Abelyan
to stand and trade punches with him.

“But when all’s said and done, if you look through both their records,
Scott’s the one with experience at the top level so, for me, he is
a comfortable favourite and I expect him to win clearly.

“I think it will go the distance but I expect Scott to win and look
good doing it.”