Herol Graham has heard that remark so many times that he could be forgiven for being a little nauseous but, kind and pleasant to a fault, he only sees the good within the bitter sweet depiction. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. The one title that eluded this three-weight class pugilist is the World Championship. Herol Graham v Julian Jackson Devastating KO. In 1978 at 18 he won the British amateur title, turned professional later that year, won the British, European and Commonwealth titles in an unbeaten sequence of 38 fights that lasted until 1987. BEST OVERALL: The Bombers final fight came in March 1998 against American power puncher Charles Brewer and once again he performed brilliantly. I can remember all these things from back in those days.. Its great because I remember it so well, said Graham. Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. It was funny because after that fight Pazienza told me that I didnt touch him. His biography, Bomber: Behind the Laughter, was received extremely well last year and the former world title challenger was glad to shed the stereotypical tough guy image. He wanted to do more, but the depression chains him to chairs and he sits and festers and cries. Through it all his best road to health was other boxers and their great camaraderie. Frank Bruno has visited him on the secure ward and advised him: Herol, Ive been there, I know what youre going through. In 1989 Graham lost the closest of split decisions to Jamaicas Mike McCallum at the Royal Albert Hall for the vacant WBA middleweight title. Even McCallum wasnt difficult to hit, and although Kalambay was a big puncher with long arms, he was still findable. The Bomber has been sectioned twice, the latest incident came after he slit his wrists. The former British, Commonwealth and European middleweight champion took it upon himself to find a day job to 'give his life some purpose'. The photographs were not taken by me; the scan includes the front cover of the magazine and the credits page. Through it all his best road to health was other boxers and their great camaraderie. I wasnt ready to come out. Trump Supporters Consume And Share The Most Fake News, Oxford Study Finds He turned pro and won 41 of his 49 fights but all those blows to the head ruined his life. He practiced his moves in prison, under Ingles watchful eye. In a mental . I got depression and ended up in hospital.. The judges scored aggression but it wasnt effective aggression. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Hundreds of ex-boxers associations act as support groups to raise money. 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. Still, the snake like bending at the waist was what all the fighters copied and its great to have been such a popular influence.. Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. They dont care. Despite going on to gain a world title shot in March 1998 in what was to be his final fight, Graham admits he never really recovered from the Jackson defeat and talks frankly about his desperation to get out of hospitals the isolation and the drugs regime that zombifies him and return to normal life. Below we countdown to Herol Graham upcoming birthday. There were a lot of broken hearts in Britain that night, especially mine. It was over, he finished with 48 wins in 54 fights during 20 years as a professional. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Graham would go on to fight for world titles twice at middleweight and once at super middleweight. He owned a jerky style and was nearly impossible to hit. [3], Graham released his autobiography entitled Bomber: Behind the Laughter in 2011. Thats what we were worried about!. His story goes something like this. Improved safety regulations came too late for many of yesterdays champions struggling in poverty and isolation. There were months of hospital care then endless speech therapy and physio. It was a Sunday morning, he reflected. An inquest found his loss of income was likely. This is what I mean You see how my brain goes. Post by Redback Rasta 09 Dec 2015, 03:04. Depression is hard to describe unless youve been through it, he said. When it comes to defensive boxing, certain fighters have the knack of intuitive improvisation. ended up costing Graham the verdict. Graham would enjoy living out his days with old mates and sparring partners. I have leave so its not as bad, but sometimes with the depression, its escorted leave only, so they will be watching over me all the time. 17th Sep 2013, 10:17am. Theres nothing ex-boxers love more, he said. They do not have the funding or the resources. Graham still follows boxing and is interested in training full time, but this reporter was keen to know if its possible to teach the natural skills he possessed. Willie Pep, Pernell Whitaker and Wilfredo Benitez were all professional escape artists, whereas today The Invisible Man is played to perfection by pound for pound hotshot, Floyd Mayweather. There was a sense of relief in disclosing my depression and it put peoples expectations into perspective, said Graham. Box-am Box-pro All Bouts division: middle status: inactive bouts: 54: rounds: 378 KOs: 51.85% career: 1978-1998 . I wanted the best deal for my fighters and Duff never liked that, countered Ingle. 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He just took his meals with others who were like complete strangers to him, and went back to his room lonely and depressed. 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. Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. Herol has been sectioned twice, the latest incident came after he slit his wrists after drinking a bottle of brandy. It does do that to you.. Herol "Bomber" Graham can: after one minute and 13 seconds of the fourth round of the World Boxing . Of course Im a man, but men cry sometimes, dont they? 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 . He revealed: "Not many people knew. Today he is still fragile but in a halfway house. 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. His mother, Jackie, said: We are a boxing family. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Herol Graham - Vintage Photograph 4640393 at the best online prices at eBay! He is the former editor of Boxing News and has written for the publication since 2002. Herol Graham ( Bomber) is a retired British professional boxer. Graham had to wait another two years before he got his chance. Hastings EBA chairman Dave Harris proposed Ringside Rest and Care after looking through his friend Olivers sad list. I was out before I hit the floor.. When he wrote his life story several years ago, he called it tellingly Bomber: Behind the Laughter. 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 . Herol has been sectioned twice, the latest incident came after he slit his wrists after drinking a bottle of brandy. His boxers were not allowed to punch back. Ringside Rest and Care has some of boxings greats on board to hopefully take up the slack. For them, the referee, rather than embracing the fantasy of reaching the top and ignoring the possibility of pain and disappointment, they must instead confront reality early [] Nobody, come on now, dont mess about (laughs)! We had to be on our best behaviour and on our best form, otherwise youd get caught. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. At 59, he has spent time recently in a secure mental health institution on constant suicide watch. In February Hagler was stripped and Graham still had to wait as the shameful series of delays continued. If they did, I would have gone in for them, He laughed heartily, again a mischievous smile crossing his lips. He doesnt know what hes doing. Tris Dixon, 2021. Graham was lifeless on the canvas, having dropped suddenly. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, From world title fights to stacking boxes in Asda and being sectioned with mental health issues: the sad story of a true British boxing great, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Would you like to react to this message? Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites. Ex-boxer Ricky Hatton has also promised fundraising support for Ringside Rest and Care. There is not one solid story that I believe about Graham refusing a fight - he was just bloody avoided. RMDX9N2J - Herol Graham, at the Mind Mental Health Media Awards at BFI Southbank London, England - 19.11.12 Featuring: Herol Graham Where: London, United Kingdom When: 19 Nov 2012 RM G4G2H2 - Undated library file of former WBC International Super-Middleweight champion Herol Graham, who has been forced to retire from boxing after being told . 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. 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. I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy., Hatton quit boxing in 2012 before eventually going into rehab for drink and depression. Only now is the issue of concussion being properly acknowledged and studied. Multiple world champion Ricky Hatton has also promised fundraising support for Ringside Rest and Care. I was anxious to get out, but whats going to happen? But that is set to change. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Feedback Herol Graham birthday is on 13-Sep-59 and he was born on Sunday. . What kind of honor is that? Brewer dropped twice before rallying to stop Graham 1997-12-06: Vinny Pazienza: 41 6 0: Wembley Arena, Wembley W-UD. He practiced his moves in prison, under Ingle's watchful eye. Pat Thomas (geb. He just took his meals with others who were like complete strangers to him, and went back to his room lonely and depressed. event bout wiki. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing, GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. I would still give punch power to Julian Jackson though. That list numbers 28 former boxers in urgent need of help and support, seven of them needing 24/7 attention. Herol Graham had all the tools to beat Mike McCallum, but he threw them away. Privacy Policy Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Herol Graham is 5 feet 0 inches tall. All he had to do was hit, move, and not get hit like that again. herol graham Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. After retiring from boxing he became a trainer in white-collar boxing But this was what Graham was told he had, and he was accepting of it, too. When he talked about suicide, there was a devilish grin that hinted he may just be a little out of control. Former world champion John Conteh (pictured) is fundraising for a retirement home for boxers. After turning professional he was a regular fixture on ITV Fight Night in the 1980s. I got him down twice, but couldnt finish and he ended up stopping me. Some of the sports hardest cases are today acknowledging the need for better care in the years after a boxing career ends. 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. Some of the sports hardest cases are today acknowledging the need for better care in the years after a boxing career ends. Herol Graham 48: 6: 0: 28 KOs 3 KOs; wiki. He put on a brave front but when it was time for me to go he begged me to stay.. Other people came through for me when I needed it, now Im doing everything I can to raise funds for this project.. Terry was my cousin, she said. The fans should stick with him. Graham actually has been to prison, just not as an inmate. But he was told he had punch-drunk syndrome. A year later, in another world title challenge, he lost to Julian Jackson for the vacant WBC middleweight title. He took on the very talented Brit Herol Graham for the vacant WBC middleweight belt. Herol Graham - Vintage Photograph 2661191 Sponsored $12.90 + $7.00 shipping Herol Graham - Vintage Photograph 4637176 + $7.00 shipping Herol Graham - Vintage Photograph 2217546 + $10.00 shipping BUY 2, GET 1 FREE (add 3 to cart) See all eligible items and terms Hover to zoom Have one to sell? The Bomber, as he was known, is now facing the biggest fight of his life, against depression and bipolar disease. 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. 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. He is also on The Ring ratings panel and an elector for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. 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. No one ever hit me full on. 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. He retired at 25 on health grounds and he was heartbroken. Shop with confidence eBay Money Back Guarantee Youre in bed crying every day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Nobody wanted to willingly fight me, I had to wait and then take what was offered, added Graham. The British Boxing Board of Control have signed up to the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation. The 55-year-old, who now lives with girlfriend Karen in north London, says that the job means he can still do his personal appearances and boxing-related activities without having to worry about money. The suspension of a bridge is long, is it not? He eventually lost his unbeaten record defending his European middleweight title against future world champion Sumbu Kalambay in 1987. Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. The wise old trainer would put Graham in jails, in working men's social. Herol Graham lands a blow to the head of Vinny Pazienza at Wembley Arena in December 1997 Once the comeback thoughts were put to bed, the depression gradually worsened. 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. Mini Bio (1) Herol Graham is known for Sporting Heroes - After the Final Whistle (2012), Ten Count and A Question of Sport (1970). He survived a five-and-a-half hour operation but afterwards doctors warned us he wasnt going to live. 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Sell now Shop with confidence eBay Money Back Guarantee Every day one of the lads says to me 'Come on Bomber' and pretends to put his fists up.". Then I would tell them that Herol couldnt hit them! Sadly, Grahams story is just one of a long list drawn up recently by former boxer John Oliver, one of Anthony Joshuas early trainers. One shot and I was gone and it came just after the referee was going to stop the fight in my favor. 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]. Jacksons right hand spoke only once and Graham was out cold. Move, and went back to his room lonely and depressed wise old trainer would put Graham jails. Countered Ingle to his room lonely and depressed when he talked about suicide, there a! ; Physical Stats: herol Graham for the vacant WBC middleweight title Its great I! 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