Herol Graham: who ducked him?

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  • Toney616
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    #1

    Herol Graham: who ducked him?

    Is this true?
    Herol Graham:

    Herol 'Bomber' Graham was a slick, peppering boxer and easily one of the best fighters to never win a world title. He gave Mike McCallum and Julian Jackson their most difficult ever fights by far. Hands by his waist, waiting to counter, relying on reflexes to avoid punches, switch-hitting - Graham was something else in his prime. A tricky southpaw, who was so lightning fast at 154 pounds, that nobody could even lay a glove on him.

    Graham won his first 37 fights, easily, and was avoided like the plague by Hagler, Leonard, Hearns and Duran. Next up, was another easy win over Ayub Kalule, (who Ray Leonard described as his most difficult ever win) at the peak of his career, to take him to 38-0. His loss to Sumbu Kalambay was a huge shock upset, however. Graham had already signed to fight Iran Barkley for the world title and Kalambay was only seen as a safe warm up fight and so Graham didn't reportedly train for the fight. He lost a 50/50 split decision to a prime Mike McCallum after showboating at the end of the fight, which didn't go down well with the judges. One of the best wins of his career came against a hot, young lion Rod Douglas, who was a very exciting prospect at the time. Nevertheless, Graham rolled back the years and countered him to pieces. His darkest moment was the Julian Jackson fight but he bounced back yet again by easily out boxing Sumbu Kalambay in his own backyard, only to find himself on the end of a scandalous decision, robbed of victory in what would of avenged his first defeat. He very almost defeated Charles Brewer in an admirable comeback, some 20 years after his pro debut. Graham is widely regarded as one of the greatest British talents of the last 50 years. Surely, the 1986 Graham would have likely out-pointed the 1986, Hagler. Graham was the number one contender at the time. Herol Graham was almost too good to be true during his undefeated streak, but unfortunately he failed to put bums on seats due to his defensive style.
    http://www.ea$tsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5604&more=1
  • John Hue
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    #2
    Nigel Benn said "Who needs him" about Graham when his career was over. Basically he was saying the Graham was really good and awkward and he chose not to fight him as it would have been a really messy affair. Watson, Benn and Eubank all fought eachother but not Graham. There is a strong case for all of them avoiding him.

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    • Toney616
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      #3
      Originally posted by John Hue
      Nigel Benn said "Who needs him" about Graham when his career was over. Basically he was saying the Graham was really good and awkward and he chose not to fight him as it would have been a really messy affair. Watson, Benn and Eubank all fought eachother but not Graham. There is a strong case for all of them avoiding him.
      Benn also says in his autobiography that he tried to make a fight with Graham as well. Either way Graham hurt his "box office", by being so defensive minded in the ring. Still, he was a great talent. I wish he learned to defend himself better and stopped that pulling away from punches nonsense.

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      • Joey Giardello
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        #4
        Nigel Benn
        Chris Eubank
        Mike Mccallum avoided a rematch, i remember reading a interview with herol in the boxing monthly and he said mccallum and his team flat out refused to give him a rematch.
        Steve Collins avoided herol when herol made a come back in 1995.
        Herol was marvin hagler's number 1 contender for a while but at that time herol graham's name ment nothing in america and hagler was only looking for big fights at that stage of his career.

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        • Toney616
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          #5
          Originally posted by Joey Giardello
          Nigel Benn
          I hear conflicting reports about this
          Chris Eubank
          Chris said he would only fight him, if he was his mandatory
          Mike Mccallum
          Avoided a rematch, i remember reading a interview with herol in the boxing monthly and he said mccallum and his team flat out refused to give him a rematch.
          Ill have to look into that
          Steve Collins avoided herol when herol made a come back in 1995.
          When was the fight possible, was he Collins mandatory?
          Herol was marvin hagler's number 1 contender for a while but at that time herol graham's name ment nothing in america and hagler was only looking for big fights at that stage of his career.
          Thats what I heard as well

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          • RubenSonny
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            #6
            Definately was a great talent its a shame that a lot of people on here only remember him being KO'ed by Jackson. Iron, I've heard that Leonard ducked Nunn, any truth in this?

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            • Kid McCoy
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              #7
              Graham became Hagler's mandatory in late 1986 after winning an eliminator against Mark Kaylor. By then Hagler had already signed to fight Sugar Ray Leonard so Graham was never really on the radar.

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              • Toney616
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                #8
                Originally posted by rubensonnny
                Definately was a great talent its a shame that a lot of people on here only remember him being KO'ed by Jackson.
                True.
                He gave a good account of himself before the ko as well
                Originally posted by rubensonnny
                Iron, I've heard that Leonard ducked Nunn, any truth in this?
                I heard the the winner of Hearns-Leonard II, supposed to fight Nunn. Neither of them did. BattlingNelson is really the guy to ask for more info.

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                • Toney616
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                  #9
                  Originally posted by Kid McCoy
                  Graham became Hagler's mandatory in late 1986 after winning an eliminator against Mark Kaylor. By then Hagler had already signed to fight Sugar Ray Leonard so Graham was never really on the radar.
                  Hagler was also ready to retire after the Mugabi fight, before getting talked into fighting Leonard.

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                  • BattlingNelson
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                    #10
                    As I remember it the article pretty much presents the brit view of things. So slightly biased IMO. Still it is clear that Grahams ackward style didn't give him any favours. However neither of the fab four looked in his direction and why should they? Graham was always going to be a high risk - low reward fight and there was always more lucrative options available for them.

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