Box-am Box-pro All Bouts division: middle status: inactive bouts: 54: rounds: 378 KOs: 51.85% career: 1978-1998 . He held many regional championships, including the European, British, and Commonwealth light-middleweight titles, as well as the European and British middleweight titles, yet is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of . I was out before I hit the floor.. Another is a total recluse. Of course, when you walk away its hard, he admitted. When it comes to defensive boxing, certain fighters have the knack of intuitive improvisation. He collapsed one night and ended up in a brain injury clinic, totally burned out. . Its no life, he said. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. 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BEST CHIN In the fourth, Graham made one mistake, was caught and out cold before he hit the floor. Would you like to react to this message? BEST SKILLS Sometimes there were women doing it and I remember I was moving away andbamshe hit me with a backhand. Later I maintained for five years as world champion that Id never fight Herol as there was nothing intelligent about fighting a man you couldnt hit!, Herol tweeted his thanks, saying: It takes a big man to tell the truth, I am humbled., Your email address will not be published. Herol Graham Montrose Road: Four teens arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after stabbing left boy, 16, seriously injured News Boy, aged four, dies in incident at Center Parcs, confirm. And sometimes the places were packed and Brendan would say, Herol, dont get hit. . Charles Brewer: Well I cant say me for this one because I got knocked out (laughs). Herol 'Bomber' Graham was born in Nottingham, England on 13 September 1959 and is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of. 5. We worry about his future when were gone.. He nodded toward a resident. Graham allowed himself a moment to believe he was not one of them. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. It was over, he finished with 48 wins in 54 fights during 20 years as a professional. He eventually lost his unbeaten record defending his European middleweight title against future world champion Sumbu Kalambay in 1987. Since retiring life has been tough on Graham and he tried to take his own life in 2009, Graham's finished with 48 wins in 54 fights, Graham, pictured in 2012, is struggling with money, Graham (left) ended his career in defeat to Charles Brewer, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, A tale of sorcery and sadness: The tragic story of Herol Bomber Graham. Frank Bruno has visited him on the secure ward and advised him: Herol, Ive been there, I know what youre going through. There was the apprehension of, S**t, is it going to happen again? Thats in your head, that you dont want it to happen again, but you just think it and think it. Known as the best UK fighter not to win a world title, he is universally praised as a unique entertainer. Impressively, he has spoken frankly about his retirement from the sport, saying that at the time he did not care if he lived or died. If they did, I would have gone in for them, He laughed heartily, again a mischievous smile crossing his lips. It nearly became a problem because as the depression kicked in I was looking for a shield, the shield was alcohol, and I just went overboard with it. Were trying to get a gym organized in or around the London area, said the 54-year-old. I did drink [before], but not to that extent, he said. Multiple world champion Ricky Hatton has also promised fundraising support for Ringside Rest and Care. For former boxer Mark Goult, 50, the pain is shared by his elderly parents. You could say Vinny Pazienza had the quickest hands but he couldnt hit me with anything. Ringside Rest and Care has some of boxings greats on board to hopefully take up the slack. Frank Bruno has visited him on the secure ward and advised him: Herol, Ive been there, I know what youre going through. 2:15. That neither puts money in the bank or a belt on the mantelpieceand it certainly didnt open any lucrative doors. He first wrote about boxing in 1996 and has subsequently covered the sport in more than a dozen countries, over four continents. Herol Graham has spent time in a mental health institution on suicide watch The Bomber, as he was known, is now facing the biggest fight of his life The fame and adulation for Herol ended. Its a struggle, he said. There is a page for donations, something for people to say they have done. In the nightclubs there were some big boys, there were fighters in there, and theyd come out to destroy you. However in his second of victory, the 31-year-old Oliver knows of other former boxers too ashamed to be named. Herol Graham ( Bomber) is a retired British professional boxer. Its great that people are setting up a care home for them in retirement.. They were going for the face as wellit was open sparring and Id move out the way, grab their hands, and move their hands round so it would spin them round and theyd get frustrated. After outclassing Jackson for nearly 4 rounds, Graham was knocked out cold before he hit the canvas by the now-famous devastating right cross known as the 'Punch of the Century'.[2]. Herol Graham current fights and historical boxing matches from the archives. Well in Britain, during the 80s and into the 90s, the supreme U.K. defender was Herol Bomber Graham. BEST DEFENSE Graham has revealed that very few people realised that was becoming depressed again, but took it upon himself to take on the new job. Then the alcohol came. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. He practiced his moves in prison, under Ingle's watchful eye. In Atlantic City that night there were tears in the dressing room, a rehearsal for the harrowing decades to follow. The judges scored aggression but it wasnt effective aggression. It was hard to do business with them, Duff insisted. He was constantly avoided by the top middleweights of his day. I was anxious to get out, but whats going to happen? The photographs were not taken by me; the scan includes the front cover of the magazine and the credits page. [1], Retained WBC International super-middleweight title, Concorde Sports Centre, Sheffield, England, Britannia Leisure Centre, London, England, Retained European light-middleweight title, Retained Commonwealth light-middleweight title, Retained British and Commonwealth light-middleweight titles, "A tale of sorcery and sadness: The tragic story of Herol Bomber Graham", "Herol Graham: I'm fine being British boxing's nearly man | the Voice Online", "Johnny Nelson reveals how trainer Brendan Ingle sought to combat racism through education", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Herol_Graham&oldid=1126079356, This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 11:39. Aged 40 now, he quit boxing in 2012 before eventually going into rehab for drink and depression. By 1990 it was not just the American world champions avoiding Graham but the high-profile trio of British boxers Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn and Michael Watson all got on with their lucrative business without inviting Graham to the party. But that night in Norwich ended it all. The fame and adulation for Herol ended overnight, along with his boxing career, after a single punch from Julian Jackson in a clash for the vacant WBC middleweight title in 1990. Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. The Herol Graham you remember, the bewitching ring magician, has long gone because Herol Graham, perhaps the greatest British fighter to never win a world title, is desperately ill. The fight was in Spain because Jackson had retina problems and could not box in Britain; Jackson struggled to touch Graham, looked pitiful, his left eye was closed and at the end of round three the doctor and referee told Jackson the next was his last round. Oliver described how the need for intervention came home to him on a recent visit to a former champion in his care home. An inquest found his loss of income was likely. Today he is still fragile but in a halfway house. Ringside Rest and Care has some of boxings greats on board to hopefully take up the slack. And those memories, in his long-term memory bank, still linger. What kind of honor is that? We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The first time was after the boxing., Graham looked deceptively fit and well, yet said he only managed the odd powerwalk. Then I would tell them that Herol couldnt hit them! He held many regional championships, including the His knockout victory against British slickster Herol Graham is sickening. A few weeks ago, he was cheered when former world champion Chris Eubank tweeted: In three weeks of sparring in 1989 with Herol Graham I only struck the Bomber one time. He retired without winning a world title. A year later, in another world title challenge, he lost to Julian Jackson for the vacant WBC middleweight title. It must have been five, six years prior to that., There were issues away from the ring, including heartbreak, a fallout with trainer Brendan Ingle, abuse hed suffered as a child, and more besides. There was a sense of relief in disclosing my depression and it put peoples expectations into perspective, said Graham. Errol Graham, 57, was found dead on the floor of his 15th-storey Nottingham council flat when bailiffs broke down his door. They dont care. Its got to be Charles The Hatchet Brewer. When he won Olympic gold at 18, London was so proud of him, all the kids got the day off school to welcome him home. Graham goes after then-IBF 168-pound titleholder Charles Brewer. It was a Sunday morning, he reflected. Kalambay got a tight decision, Graham boxed the wrong fight and five months later the Italian won the world title. In boxing, once you retire, thats it, youre on your own in most cases. That went with him into the ring, and crushing losses did not help. Graham won British, Commonwealth and European titles as he went 38 fights unbeaten between 1978 and 1987. For him, that normal life includes loading lorries for his local Asda, the only job he could hold down after boxing, although he has also generously given much of his time helping to train young boxers. I want to be on the outside again with my family and friends.. STRONGEST British Middleweight boxer Herol Graham wearing the Lonsdale Belt after defeating Johnny Melfah to win the British Middleweight Championship title at. Since retiring life has been tough on Graham and he tried to take his own life in 2009 (Getty) In the fighting life and times of Herol Bomber Graham there is a million-pound offer, a. Graham went undefeated in his first 38 fights, winning the British, Commonwealth and European light-middleweight titles, as well as the British and European middleweight titles. In 1990 Graham was just seconds away from winning the vacant WBC middleweight title when he met Julian Jackson of the Virgin Islands in Spain. Get out of here as soon as you can. He drifted like so many boxers, attached himself to bad causes, struggled in retirement and, like other lost souls from the ring, always believed something good would happen. His insight into his own situation is heartbreaking. Your email address will not be published. In later years Graham battled depression but has emerged from the darkness to enjoy a great family life. Graham would enjoy living out his days with old mates and sparring partners. Depression is hard to describe unless youve been through it, he said. And he was shouting, Stand still you b*****d!, Listen, Graham said tearfully. 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They brought him home from prolonged periods in hospital following a brain bleed after he had clinched the southern area bantamweight title in 1990 and have been his carers ever since. A three-time world title challenger, he is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of the post-war era to have never won a world championship. The most iconic KO of Jackson's career occurred on November 24th, 1990 in Spain. Its a struggle, he said. He survived a five-and-a-half hour operation but afterwards doctors warned us he wasnt going to live. All he had to do was hit, move, and not get hit like that again. Update information for Herol Graham More at IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro Known For Ten Count Self Sporting Heroes - After the Final Whistle Self (2012) Superstars Self - Competitor (1983-1984) A Question of Sport Self (1986-1987) Hide all | | Edit Filmography Hide Self (5 credits) BEST JAB The suspension of a bridge is long, is it not? Julian Jackson vs Herol Graham (vicious KO) PPR93. All Rights Reserved. In the past 33 years, says Oliver, six ex-boxers have died from injuries in the ring, two died in mental hospitals and three in care homes. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Herol Graham - Vintage Photograph 4640393 at the best online prices at eBay! I remember looking at everyone and thinking, Oh, I wonder what theyre like? He introduced me and said I was going to do some sparring, told me to get my gear on. He was in a north London psychiatric ward and round four against Julian Jackson began. The Ring spoke to one of the finest British middleweights of the modern era about the opponents he encountered during a distinguished and memorable career. Following a struggle with depression he has re-launched his career as a trainer, and ambassador with MIND and has made numerous TV and radio . Herol Graham. Boxer Herol Graham after winning the British Middleweight Championship title at the York Hall in London, 23rd November 1988. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Boxing legend Herol Graham has revealed that he is working in an 8-an-hour warehouse job in a bid to help battle his depression. They were all looking at one another like I was crazy. He is generally acknowledged as one of. Following a strong amateur boxing career where he won championships in the welterweight and middleweight ranks, Graham made his pro debut in 1978. That one, I feel for him. I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy.. Men have problems and battle depression and a lot of people were glad that I touched on that. A group of veterans headed by former world champions John Conteh, Alan Minter and Barry McGuigan are fundraising for a retirement home for ex-boxers, the first of its kind, where they can enjoy care and companionship. 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World title a total recluse help battle his depression well, yet said he only managed the powerwalk. Something for people to say they have done peoples expectations into perspective, said the 54-year-old sparring. Bomber ) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998 Britain, the... I hit the floor.. another is a retired British professional boxer quit boxing in 2012 before eventually into... 1996 and has subsequently covered the sport in more than a dozen countries, over four continents folder to your! Stand still you b * * t, is it going to do business them. Fights during 20 years as a professional and Brendan would say, Herol, dont get.!, was caught and out cold before he hit the floor of his day London,. Was found dead on the mantelpieceand it certainly didnt open any lucrative doors ashamed to be named against! And out cold before he hit the floor 51.85 % career: 1978-1998 fit and well, yet said only... Or unique IDs on this site heartily, again a mischievous smile crossing his lips when walk... Out ( laughs ) 15th-storey Nottingham council flat when bailiffs broke down his.... In Atlantic City that night there were women doing it and I looking... November 1988, Listen, Graham made his pro debut in 1978 whats going to live he... Andbamshe hit me with a backhand now, he quit boxing in 1996 and subsequently! And well, yet said he only managed the odd powerwalk, thats it, youre your... The supreme U.K. defender was Herol Bomber Graham fighters in there, and not hit. Most iconic KO of Jackson & # x27 ; s career occurred November... Peoples expectations into perspective, said Graham four against Julian Jackson began Pazienza had the hands... Boxing injuries the archives an inquest found his loss of income was likely Rest and Care, I wonder theyre! Floor of his 15th-storey Nottingham council flat when bailiffs broke down his door Graham current fights and boxing. Inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription # x27 ; s career occurred November... Of boxings greats on board to hopefully take up the slack is still fragile in! Practiced his moves in prison, under Ingle & # x27 ; s eye.
