Herol Graham - The Best I've Faced

[dalcumly]

When Herol was being taken around the gyms by Brendan Ingle, just after he turned pro, they came up to Syston to spar with Tony Sibson. Now Tony was an experienced professional at the time, and he's a very unassuming sort of guy and he just sparred with whoever was in front of him.During the first couple of rounds Herol was dancing about making Sibson miss and flicking out counters. Sibson wasn't bothered he just thought it was a 'different' type of spar.However Sibsons trainer Ken Squires was watching from the side and could see Brendan and Herol were taking the 'mickey'.
He whispered in Sibsons ear and Tony got the message. He smashed Herol all over place forcing Brendan to jump in the ring . Of course he complained about Sibson taking advantage, but my interpretation was that Brendan/Herol simply got more than they bargained for!!

[keithmoonhangover]

Was with mccallum all last week and brought up the fight with herol graham he was very complentary of him.Said he was a bad boy who was really hard to get to too but felt his experience got it down the straight.Interestingly he also said julian jackson was the hardest puncher he went in with including sparring.

And he sparred with Hearns, so that's more evidence (if it was ever needed) that Jackson was a monster.

What was the Mosconi cup like? Fun?

[Counter-puncher]

Herol was dancing about making Sibson miss and flicking out counters. Sibson wasn't bothered he just thought it was a 'different' type of spar.However Sibsons trainer Ken Squires was watching from the side and could see Brendan and Herol were taking the 'mickey'.

except that was Graham's style and what he did all the time...?

[THEBUTCH]

I would like to chip in on the Sibson angle and despite being a HUGE Graham fan, don't believe Tony ducked Herol.

The others (Eubank, Watson, Benn etc) I wouldn't dispute avoided Graham, but Sibson was different and his style, IMO, would have been a big problem for Graham. We'll never know, but I would have struggled to pick a winner. Watch Sibson against Brian Anderson. Tony had the style completely sussed. Yes, I know Anderson wasn't Graham, but it does show a little glimpse of Tony's abilities of dealing with a slippery switch hitter.

[jonp]

Was with mccallum all last week and brought up the fight with herol graham he was very complentary of him.Said he was a bad boy who was really hard to get to too but felt his experience got it down the straight.Interestingly he also said julian jackson was the hardest puncher he went in with including sparring.

And he sparred with Hearns, so that's more evidence (if it was ever needed) that Jackson was a monster.

What was the Mosconi cup like? Fun?

I watched a couple of sessions it was alright the fans made it fun they were crazy lol.

[jonp]

Was with mccallum all last week and brought up the fight with herol graham he was very complentary of him.Said he was a bad boy who was really hard to get to too but felt his experience got it down the straight.Interestingly he also said julian jackson was the hardest puncher he went in with including sparring.

And he sparred with Hearns, so that's more evidence (if it was ever needed) that Jackson was a monster.

What was the Mosconi cup like? Fun?

Questioned him a lot about his fights sparring etc youl be quite surprised who he said was the most skillful fighter he shared a ring with.

[Tomasino]

Was with mccallum all last week and brought up the fight with herol graham he was very complentary of him.Said he was a bad boy who was really hard to get to too but felt his experience got it down the straight.Interestingly he also said julian jackson was the hardest puncher he went in with including sparring.

And he sparred with Hearns, so that's more evidence (if it was ever needed) that Jackson was a monster.

What was the Mosconi cup like? Fun?

Questioned him a lot about his fights sparring etc youl be quite surprised who he said was the most skillful fighter he shared a ring with.

Kalambay or Curry?

[jonp]

And he sparred with Hearns, so that's more evidence (if it was ever needed) that Jackson was a monster.

What was the Mosconi cup like? Fun?

Questioned him a lot about his fights sparring etc youl be quite surprised who he said was the most skillful fighter he shared a ring with.

Kalambay or Curry?

Spot on curry he said currys skill was unreal he said kalambay wa awkard and very effective

[Bricks]

Currys skill during 84-early 86 was unreal.......mccallum got the defensively slipping,less confident curry who had been headbutted brutally in 3 of his last 3 fights.......yet that curry still masterfully outboxed mccallum until the left hook lapse madness.

Even totally shot v nunn he seemed to outbox him flashily in stages.

If i had a time machine id have loved to put the 1985 curry in against mccallum ,nunn and norriss and see donald beat all of them

[jonp]

mccallum said he was the most skillful guy hed ever been in with and look at the people he boxed and sparred some compliment

[Switch hitter]

When Herol was being taken around the gyms by Brendan Ingle, just after he turned pro, they came up to Syston to spar with Tony Sibson. Now Tony was an experienced professional at the time, and he's a very unassuming sort of guy and he just sparred with whoever was in front of him.During the first couple of rounds Herol was dancing about making Sibson miss and flicking out counters. Sibson wasn't bothered he just thought it was a 'different' type of spar.However Sibsons trainer Ken Squires was watching from the side and could see Brendan and Herol were taking the 'mickey'.
He whispered in Sibsons ear and Tony got the message. He smashed Herol all over place forcing Brendan to jump in the ring . Of course he complained about Sibson taking advantage, but my interpretation was that Brendan/Herol simply got more than they bargained for!!

This is why Sibson rushed to fight Graham then....

[dalcumly]

Sibson v Graham Money,money,money.............

Does anyone seriously believe that Tony Sibson had ANY concerns about fighting Herol ??

[Pugilist-specialist]

When Herol was being taken around the gyms by Brendan Ingle, just after he turned pro, they came up to Syston to spar with Tony Sibson. Now Tony was an experienced professional at the time, and he's a very unassuming sort of guy and he just sparred with whoever was in front of him.During the first couple of rounds Herol was dancing about making Sibson miss and flicking out counters. Sibson wasn't bothered he just thought it was a 'different' type of spar.However Sibsons trainer Ken Squires was watching from the side and could see Brendan and Herol were taking the 'mickey'.
He whispered in Sibsons ear and Tony got the message. He smashed Herol all over place forcing Brendan to jump in the ring . Of course he complained about Sibson taking advantage, but my interpretation was that Brendan/Herol simply got more than they bargained for!!

Alan Minter sacked Graham as his sparring partner in 1980 because he couldn't land a glove on him. I take the above story with a pinch of salt.

[Pugilist-specialist]

I would like to chip in on the Sibson angle and despite being a HUGE Graham fan, don't believe Tony ducked Herol.

The others (Eubank, Watson, Benn etc) I wouldn't dispute avoided Graham, but Sibson was different and his style, IMO, would have been a big problem for Graham. We'll never know, but I would have struggled to pick a winner. Watch Sibson against Brian Anderson. Tony had the style completely sussed. Yes, I know Anderson wasn't Graham, but it does show a little glimpse of Tony's abilities of dealing with a slippery switch hitter.

Anderson was quite orthodox - certainly not a slippery switch-hitter. He lost 8 times domestically before winning the vacant British. After losing to Sibson in his first defence, he called it a day at 26 having reached his pinnacle.

Herol Graham was different gravy. Sibson relinquished his title when ordered to face Graham, then fought for it again after Herol relinquished.

[Counter-puncher]

My problem was the idea graham was taking the mickey by doing what he always did....

[Parson Cross]

Anderson was quite orthodox - certainly not a slippery switch-hitter. He lost 8 times domestically before winning the vacant British. After losing to Sibson in his first defence, he called it a day at 26 having reached his pinnacle.

Herol Graham was different gravy. Sibson relinquished his title when ordered to face Graham, then fought for it again after Herol relinquished.[/quote]

This.
Why would a fighter vacate, watch another fighter take the title, then come back after he vacates ?

[dalcumly]

Sibson if I remember correctly gave up the British title for a variety of reasons. I can only say that both Tony and his trainer Ken Squires had no fears at all about facing Herol.

By the time he faced Anderson, Tony had lost interest in the game, but was persuaded to fight again for the British title by Ken Squires who emphasised the importance of getting hold of the Lonsdale Belt for keeps.

[Pugilist-specialist]

Graham was the undefeated European light-middleweight champion . He moved up to middle and continued his run of KO's. Sibson was ordered to face him (at the age of 26) but relinquished his title. Graham won the title with a first round KO. After winning the European title with another KO, he relinquished the British to allow his friend Brian Anderson a shot at it. Sibson then chose to fight for the title again.

[palooka]

Tony Sibson was a very good and powerful 'by the numbers' boxer - if he'd have boxed Herol he'd have gone the same way as Kaylor. Sibson wasn't afraid of anyone in a stand and slug fight but would not have dealt with missing by miles and getting peppered.

[manno]

Big fan of sibson but at that time Herol would have picked him apart.this was before the split with Brendan. Tony was a decent boxer pushing forward and double and tripling his left hand up but Herol had seen it all before...and if tony had tried bullying him then it would have been more painful. Graham with some to spare for me.

[magwitch]

I rate and respect Herol but it is called The Best I've Faced and I would like to know the answers to that, ya know the best that he uhm, faced rather than read him saying how he is the best at this that and the other.

I will be honest and say that I switched off halfway through. Shame as he was one of the first guys I really followed in the late 80's. I got into the sport on the back of Honeyghan v Curry and Tyson emerging and then latched onto Herol.

If you know the guy you wouldn't say that mate.
That's Herol's humour.
He's been to hell and back in his personal life but to this day if he attends a do in Sheffield he lights the place up and everybody loves him.

With respect, articles should not be written for people who know the subject matter but should be written for anyone to pick up and enjoy. If you need to know Herol to understand it, it is a flawed article.

That's a really poor way to criticize a thread that is. He's actually not offered less that what the title says, he's even broken it down into sections and actually says the best overall - so, best, kapish? was McCallum.
To actually say you switched off half way through this relatively short article and then pick a load of fault with it is pretty p*ss poor.

[tobyh5]

No it isn't. It is a truth of my relationship with it as a reader. You can say you have a different experience but cannot say mine is wrong as it is mine and what I expected and what I felt.