The world title boxing belt Chris Eubank won during his 1991 fight with Michael Watson is being auctioned.

The super middle-weight championship belt is expected to fetch about £4,000 when it goes under the hammer at Wallis and Wallis auctioneers in Lewes on Thursday.

Eubank, who lives in Hove, put up his belt for auction to raise money at a benefit for Michael Watson who suffered serious brain damage after the fight at White Hart Lane, north London.

It was sold for about £3,000 to a man from Sussex who it is believed knew Eubank and was at White Hart Lane on the night. Fourteen years on, he has decided to put it back up for sale.

Auctioneers at Wallis and Wallis wondered if Eubank would want to buy back his belt but the former champ has decided against it.

Eubank, 38, of Upper Drive, Hove, said: "I didn't know it was up for auction so maybe I will go down and have a look at it. I remember the night at Grosvenor House in aid of Michael and we did lots of things to raise money for him because he was in a very bad state at the time.

"I even had a sparring session with someone that night to raise money. That belt went up for auction but I still have the middleweight belt I won in a fight against Nigel Benn.

"That belt would obviously mean more to me than to anyone else because I earned it but ultimately I am not going to get involved with the trading of something like that.

"It has already raised money for charity and that's enough. It was something that I put up for auction and it should stay that way."

Roy Butler, auctioneer at Wallis and Wallis, based on West Street, said: "Eubank felt so bad after what happened in the ring he put his belt up for auction at a benefit for Watson at Grosvenor House in London.

"I think at the time it was bought for around £3,000 and the money went towards the well-being of Watson as he was seriously injured.

"He was in a coma for over a month and then he was left paralysed.

"The belt is absolutely beautiful. It's very large and made of leather with lambs-wool on the inside where Eubank would have worn it round his stomach. Then there is a part made of metal which is very ornamental and swish. It has the World Boxing Organisation logo on it and also says World Champion.

"We have put out an estimated figure of between £3,000 and £4,000 and we will take it from there. You never know, if you get some boxing enthusiast come along then it could sell for more."

Watson suffered irreparable damage in the 12th and final round of the super-middleweight fight. He collapsed in the ring and later underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. He remains paralysed down his left side after losing half his brain function.

The auction will take place on Thursday at 11am.

For more information, call Wallis and Wallis on 01273 480208.