By Terence Dooley
Billy Graham spends a lot of time at his home/training base in Georgia these days but the veteran trainer still likes to keep an eye on the UK fight scene. One fight that has caught the eye of ‘The Preacher’ is Jason Booth’s IBF super-bantamweight showdown with Canada’s Steve Molitor at the Rainton Meadows Arena, Tyne and Wear on September the 11th. Graham has long-admired the skill and savvy of Booth, 32, he watched Jason come through the ranks.
“I watched both the Booth brothers [younger brother Nicky retired in 2003, he won British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles during his career] come through,” confided Graham when speaking to Boxingscene.
“They were both matched tough. Jason had his first title fight for the European title away in Spain against a Russian [Alexander Makhmutov] – you don’t get much tougher than that. Then he fought Damaen Kelly for the IBO version of the world title, another really tough fight.
“I rated them both when they turned over but thought Jason was that bit better, and that is no disrespect to his brother, Nicky, who was a fantastic boxer as well. I’ve seen a good bit of Steve as well. Molitor came over here three times early in his career. I saw him fight Nicky Booth and Michael Hunter so I know how dangerous he is and how well he travels.”
Molitor, 32-1 (12), lost his ‘0’ after a stunning fourth round TKO IBF/WBA title defeat to Celestino Caballero in 2008, he has since won four fights, one by knockout, regaining the IBF strap with a points win over Takalani Ndlovu in March. Graham was shocked by the manner of Steve’s sole defeat yet feels that ‘The Canadian Kid’ is still in and around the top of his game.
“Molitor got stopped by Celestino, who is a really good kid, obviously, but I’d been really impressed by him up to that point. Steve’s had a few wins since coming back and he’s strong at the weight, Jason was a flyweight in his early days, he’s come through the divisions so Molitor should be the stronger of the two,” he opined.
Jason’s tale is well known in British boxing circles, he descended into alcohol addiction after that 2004 loss to Kelly and faced a long, hard road back. Wins over Mark Moran, Rocky Dean, Michael Hunter and Matthew Marsh have propelled Booth, 35-5 (15), to the top of the British 122lb map, with this title fight just reward for the trials and tribulations endured by the Nottingham-born boxer.
“What Jason Booth has done is commendable, the guy has come through alcoholism, it is fantastic the way he’s turned his life around – I admire him for that. I always admired Jason’s exploits in the ring and like both Booth lads quite a lot,” reiterated Graham.
Indeed, Graham knows more than most about the highs and lows of boxing, he hit rock bottom when he retired from fighting back in 1976. Soon, though, the bug was back, Billy tried to renew his pro license and the process led to a life-changing moment.
“I retired then I applied to get my license back a few years later. I was 35, living in a council flat, sleeping on an old fucking mattress and drawing the Dole, I thought, ‘I have to do something – I need to box again.’ I knew it wouldn’t go anywhere because of how old I was but you sometimes just have to go back to doing something because it makes you feel good. It gives you something to hang onto, to do something you love – I was at proper rock bottom,” confessed Graham.
“I was on the top floor of this block of flats and it was just me, my monkey, Spook, and a 6’ iguana called The Big Fucker – it was fucking massive. My nephews nicked the monkey thinking they’d get a load of money for it but no one wanted to buy the bastard so I ended up with him. There was me, my mattress, the monkey and iguana, so I was spending all my money feeding the animals.”
He added: “I was surviving on chicken back soup, I’d get a few quid worth of the stuff and cook my own soup and live on that. The lucky thing about it was that I’m a fantastic cook so the soup was gorgeous – it needed to be, the animals took up all my money. The chicken backs were 50 pence for 5lb, people used to feed them to their dogs, and that was my staple food for a while until I got myself sorted. That was my life but it got turned around and I love Jason for turning his life around. When you’re really down at rock bottom you just need something to keep your mind Ok. I wanted to get back into boxing and, thankfully, got into training.
“I became a trainer, reluctantly at first, and clawed my way back. I admire anyone who can do that, and Jason has done it. Jason’s turned it around, I hope he gets this world title. Make sure he knows how much I’m rooting for him.”
“I’ve always wanted to train a top bantamweight and even though Jason’s at super-bantam now he’s always been the kind of kid I’d loved to have trained,” Graham revealed. “He is so smooth. He’s a great mechanic, so rhythmic and picks his punches beautifully; he’s also really gutsy and has got loads of heart. I really hope it goes well for him.
“Wow, Molitor is facing a tough task. Ok, Jason’s 32-years-old and he’s had some tough fights and a tough lifestyle – I hope that doesn’t take its toll on the night. But Jason’s been on a great run, wins over Michael Hunter and Matthew Marsh is good form to have going into this fight.”
However, Graham believes that Booth’s fairytale turnaround could end in noble defeat due to the title-holder’s all-round skills and world-level experience. “Molitor is a really tough operator, an all-rounder, so that will make it a hard task for Jason,” mused Graham.
“But on his night Jason looks absolutely brilliant, if he hits peak form then he’s in with a shout. I think it is a bit of a tall order. Boothy is quite old for the weight, he’s had some tough fights and a hard time outside the ring but he’s got his form back at the right time in life – he’s wiser and it is showing in his boxing. To even get to this stage is a massive achievement. Jason is a person who I really admire. I read about the kid’s problems and my heart went out too him. He’s turned it around and even if he doesn’t win he’ll give a great account of himself, he never gives anything less.”
Still, Booth will contest the title before a British crowd; the fans could prove crucial. “It gives the home fighter a real lift. It will make him perform better and drag it out more,” admitted Graham when discussing the home advantage.
“When the pain and exhaustion sets in the crowd lifts you and that is the key to being the home fighter. Though to be honest with you, if you are fighting a real pro then it has no effect on them. I fought in other people’s backyards as a professional boxer and it never bothered me, it never bothered my fighters or me as a trainer, either. But it will give Jason a lift, he also knows it is his last chance, he will be able to dig deep and give his all, it just might not be enough.
“Then again, Molitor lost by stoppage in 2008, that could be a factor if it gets tough. The fact of the matter is that Jason is a mechanic, a joy to watch and has all the talent in the world, he is capable of beating anyone on his night, can this be his night – the answer to that question will decide the fight because he’s capable of beating Molitor, he’s that good.”
“Look, younger boxers should watch Jason’s moves, he oozes class and I repeat, I’d have loved to have trained him,” purred Graham.
Nicky Booth is still mired in drink and drug problems, the younger Booth brother has been unable to fight the addictions that have plagued him since his points reverse to Molitor for the commonwealth 112lb title back in 2002. Ironically, Graham believes that Nicky’s loss to Molitor will have given Jason the inside track on the visitor.
“I think he’ll have a clinical mindset on the night,” declared Graham. “It will help him because he’ll have inside knowledge on Molitor, his brother will have talked about his experience, Jason will have watched it [Nicky’s fight] a few times, so he’ll know going into this fight what he’s up against. It might actually help Jason as he’ll have dissected that fight, if he uses that knowledge right it could be a plus for him.”
“There’s just one problem – I’ll be away in the US for the fight itself”, groaned Graham, “so you tell Jason that if I was in the country I’d buy myself a ringside ticket for it and I’d be cheering him on. Jason deserves this after coming what he’s come through.”
Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk
