BoxRec

I would just like to write a few words after the retirement of my friend and fellow Boxrec poster Graham Fearn. Behind the 5-14-2 record is a lifetime of hard work and dedication that people who just glance at the statistics wont see. I first met Graham at the old York Boxing Club in the late 80's and it was obvious then he was very talented. The gym was struggling, to be honest and soon was to fold for a couple of years, but rather than pack in like the rest of us, Graham headed to (the now defunct) St Patrick's ABC in Leeds where he joined the likes of Henry Wharton, Denzil Browne, Michael Gale, Jamie Warters and the late Tony Silkstone. Just getting there involved a run through town, a train and then a run through Leeds! And that was after school as he was about 15! After starting his amateur career there, he then took a bit of a break as he started work and was soon to become a Dad for the first time. Graham returned, and as St Pats was no more, joined the Hunslet ABC, also in Leeds, where his amateur career really took off. Thankfully he had a car by then... Training alongside Darren Rhodes, Levi Pattison, Jesse James and Gavin Wake there was never a shortage of sparring and Graham went on to win the National Novice class B (under 20 bouts) in 1998. The following two years produced decent runs in the ABA's, losing a tight decision in his first attempt and unfortunately running into Nigel Wright in his second! During his time at Hunslet he was lucky enough to box for a British select team in Texas, USA. Graham boxed on, but the childhood ambition to turn pro was always there and at the grand old age of 33, he took the plunge! After going 4-0, the fights offered were less 50-50 and more 80-20, or in some cases 95-5! Combining the training with continental shifts and a new born baby, Graham 'went on the road' and boxed some very good lads, including Frankie Gavin at the M.E.N. Fufilling lifetime ambitions of Boxing as a pro in York (a win), and Boxing at the York Hall (a war with Jonny Rocco and a points loss to Ryan Taylor) and the icing on the cake, a Hatton undercard, marred only by being bandaged up in a dressing room for 6 hours (the glamour!!). He always came to fight, as the trade guys on here will know. On top of all that, he is a genuinely nice bloke. Anyway, just thought i would acknowledge his career and say its been a privalege to have been there. Good luck for the future mate, you can be an armchair critic now, like me!

Very nice bloke. We boxed him on the hatton undercard spoke to him after and was lafffing nd joking . All the best in the future graham from the lads at the steel city gym .

Nice touch Mickey, I remember that name you mentioned levi Patterson !
Think he boxed an old club mate of mine Terry brocklebank, think Levi also boxed hard hitting Scott oats, anyway happy retirement

jessi wrote:Nice touch Mickey, I remember that name you mentioned levi Patterson !
Think he boxed an old club mate of mine Terry brocklebank, think Levi also boxed hard hitting Scott oats, anyway happy retirement

Yes, Levi lost to Oates inthe ABA final before going on to stop Nicky Cook the following year to win the title.

Great to see one of my fellow York lads getting a mention. The road warriors of our sport are often maligned, but most of them are talented guys, and some of the nicest people on the circuit. Graham has done well, and as it said, to box at York Hall and the Manchester Arena on a Ricky Hatton undercard are great moments in anyone's life. It's thanks to the likes of Graham and Glenn Banks that York now has a thriving boxing scene, with a few boxing gyms now entering lads into the amateur arena. I can't actually remember a time when York's boxing scene was buzzing like it is right now, except maybe when Henry Wharton was in his prime. Well done Graham, enjoy your retirement.

the guy is a warrior and a great servant to boxing top fella 2 im lucky enough to share the ring with him , very dedicated lad , been 10 stone for years amazing dedication that all the best pal , jonny rocco