I don't understand why so many people thought Graham won this fight. I have this fight on tape, and every time I've watched it I've given it to Gavilan. I thought Gavilan pretty much dominated the first 10 rounds, and Graham didn't really come on until the last 5 rounds. I scored that fight for Gavilan about 9-6 in rounds, the same as the one judge who was (supposedly) corrupt.
Does anyone have any information about this? Does anyone know why so many people thought Graham won? It would be much appreciated.
Kid Gavilan vs Billy Graham III (the controversial decision)
Billy Graham obviously had friends that were boxing writers, which explains why he got into the International Boxing Hall of Fame so easily. I've never seen the fight, so who knows.
There is still controversy though, since enough people whined about it. You can always find differing opinions (not disagreeing with you).
There is still controversy though, since enough people whined about it. You can always find differing opinions (not disagreeing with you).
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pbc1999
- Heavyweight
Gavilan-Graham
I agree with those who think Gavilan really did deserve the decision against Graham. Graham was an extremely popular fighter and this is why I think so many people felt that he was robbed.
If Gavilan wasn't the king of split decisions he was at least a member of the royal court. He was one of my favorite fighters, but sometimes he drove me nuts in trying to score his fights. I don't remember if I saw fight III or not, but I know he won the fourth one big and Graham never complained about the decision, even though the fight was held in Cuba. From what i gather, the fight in question could have gone either way, and Gavilan was having an off night and Graham a very good one. Gavilan's wins over Bobby Dykes and Carmen Basilio were controversial too.He was very hard to judge.He'd lay back and then put on a big finish at the end of a round to steal it.,as Ali and Leonard did later. Also, it was hard to rate his punches. The bolo was flashy and looked terrific, but was it really a hard punch? All these things were what made Gavilan so much fun to watch. I do NOT agree that Graham got the call from writers just because they liked him. Back to the king of split decisions...i am pretty sure that Emile Griffith holds this title.
Obviously if Graham had "dominated" the fight, the judge who scored it for him would have had it by a wider margin.Based on the first two fights, I can't see either fighter dominating the other one. Although, as I wrote, Gavilan did in the fourth one. interesting note -when he was asked who hit him the hardest in his career,Graham, who had never been knocked off his feet, said that Gavilan did. Especially intriguing as Gavilan was not noted as a big puncher.
Just as obviously, the fight COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY. If Keyser's scoring is the gospel, there wouldn't have been such a fuss about the decision.
Graham's own style made him as hard to judge as Gavilan's, but in a different way.Gavilan was flashy,Graham was subtle.
Just as obviously, the fight COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY. If Keyser's scoring is the gospel, there wouldn't have been such a fuss about the decision.
Graham's own style made him as hard to judge as Gavilan's, but in a different way.Gavilan was flashy,Graham was subtle.
keyser...as I read our posts back and forth to each other it occurs to me that maybe we have too much time on our hands, or at least a bad priority on how to use it. As I said, I'm not even sure I saw the damn thing, and what was it...50 years ago? My best to your father and your friend who have made your life just a litle bit happier,and I wish all good things to you, too.
