Bald Knob Toughman Bennie Watson 2006

This was Bennie Watson’s final time fighting in the Toughman Contest and he didn’t want to waste this opportunity.

Mission accomplished.

Watson and fellow Bald Knob native Robert Davis returned earlier this week from Little Rock, where they took part in the annual Toughman tournament held at the Statehouse Convention Center last weekend. Watson, who won the event in 2002, repeated the feat by plowing though three opponents en route to another Toughman title in the Heavyweight division. He earned $1,250 for the win and a trip to Connecticut for the Regionals later this summer. Regional winners will receive berths into the National finals this fall in Las Vegas, where the victor will earn between $50,000 and $75,000 and the title of National Champion.

Meanwhile, Davis took the runner-up spot in the Light Heavyweight division in his first-ever Toughman competition.

Watson, a 6-foot-4, 290-pounder, squashed his first opponent of the tournament Friday night with a knockout of Glenn Reed 30 seconds into the opening round.

It took Watson just five seconds to put Reed on the mat for the first time. Seconds later, Reed was given a standing eight-count. Watson then finished him off with a right upper cut that lifted Reed off the ground.

Watson found the going much tougher on Saturday night, when both his bouts went the distance. Watson won his first fight via split decision over “Killer” Cameron Nelson. In the finals, Watson claimed the title with a unanimous decision over 50-year-old Mike Cagel.

“(Cagel) brought it to me real bad,” Watson said. “I knew the two guys who would push me were Cameron and Mike.

“Cameron and I stood toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring,” Watson added. “He hit me the hardest. He got me with a straight right to the jaw and I hit him with a right hook.”

Watson said his most effective punches of the tournament were his right hook to the body and overhand left. His Toughman victory means that Watson will no longer be able to compete in the event in Arkansas.

While Watson used his immense ring experience to capture his second title, Davis found himself in uncharted territory. Davis’ inexperience showed early on, before he rallied to finish as the runner-up in the Light-Heavyweight bracket. Davis’ second-place finish earned him $350 and a Toughman jacket.

In his first bout of the event Friday night, Davis struggled to a unanimous decision over Asa Denton. Despite his victory, Davis was less than pleased with his performance. He gave himself a grade of D-minus.

“I abandoned my left jab Friday night,” he said. “My dad got on me, Bennie (Watson) got on me and my trainer got on me.

“I tried to street fight the guy Friday night,” Davis added. “That isn’t my game.”

On Saturday night, Davis returned to his A-game of throwing his left jab. In his first match Saturday night, he earned a technical knockout victory over Wallace “Mr. Nice Guy” Stone. The fight was halted after Stone chose not to continue after Davis knocked him down in the third round.

Davis returned later to earn a unanimous decision over James “Iron Man” Bloomfield. Davis not only earned kudos for his boxing skills, but also for his sportsmanship. Toughman Southern U.S. Promoter Lydia Robertson called Davis “a complete gentleman” after he helped Bloomfield to his feet after the fighters’ arms became entangled, causing Bloomfield to fall to the canvas.

Davis’ hopes for victory in his first tournament came to a halt when he was defeated in a split decision by Jesse “The Captain” Beal.

Despite the loss, Davis said he would return to next year’s event.

“That was the best I could do,” he said. “I left my heart in the ring.”