Former boxer Michael Watson ‘dragged for 500 yards by vehicle travelling at 50mph’ in shocking carjacker attack
Boxer was left with life changing injuries after a career ending fight with Chris Eubank in 1991
BOXING legend Michael Watson was dragged 'for at least 500 yards by a vehicle travelling at 50mph' during a terrifying attempted carjacking in east London.
The former middleweight champ and his carer were also sprayed in the face with "a noxious substance", believed to be ammonia, during the attack which left both in hospital.
Watson's carer Lennard Ballack told the : "It was horrific. It was like a Western movie when the cowboy gets dragged along by a horse. He was going at least 50mph.
"He’s got injuries all over his skin – it’s very graphic and really bad."
Ballack said two attackers had tried to pull Watson from the car, but his arm got caught in the seatbelt.
Watson, nicknamed The Force, won the British Commonwealth middleweight title in 1989.
In 1991 he was left with life changing injuries after a career-ending fight with Chris Eubank.
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The 51-year-old and his carer were targeted in Chingford on Thursday.
A car drove into the back of them and the drivers reportedly sprayed ammonia when Ballack went to investigate.
The carer said that so much ammonia was sprayed doctors had to fight to save his sight.
The carjackers tried to steal the car, dragging Watson with it. Ballack said that by the time it stopped it was "500 or 600" yards away.
It is believed both Watson and his carer have now been discharged from hospital.
Police have confirmed officers were called to Chingford, east London, just before 5pm on Thursday.
A Met spokesman said: "Two men, aged in their 50s, informed officers that they had been sprayed in the face with a suspected noxious substance by two suspects who attempted to steal the car.
"The male suspects fled the scene in a different vehicle.
"The victims were assessed at the scene by the London Ambulance Service before being taken to an east London hospital for further treatment; their injuries are not life-threatening."
During his career in the ring Watson fought 30 fights, winning 25 - 21 with KOs.
Watson fought for years to recover from the devastating injuries from his 1991 fight with Eubank, which left him in a 40-day coma.
He has been described as ";extraordinary" by doctors.
In 2003 he completed the London Marathon for charity, walking two hours each morning and afternoon for six days.
In 2004 Watson was awarded an MBE by the Queen.
Police have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.
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