BoxRec

I am sure most us here remember the strories of how Herol Graham to raise money for charity used to go with the rest of the Ingle camp around Prisons, Pubs etc and do his party trick of putting his hands behind his back and getting members of the public to try and hit him. Talk is nobody ever managed to land a clean shot on the remarkable Graham.

Anyone here ever see this? Any memories or information etc?

Cheers.

Herol Graham.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=1764

Did he actually actually get any boxers do try?

He could make most boxers miss easily

The most difficult ones are novice boxers, because their shots are the most unpredictable.

The stories are apparently true ! While I didn't see Herol do this in person, a few years ago I went to a charity evening at Doncaster prison when Brendan Ingle took along his fighters to take on convicts in a boxing ring; the pro fighters couldn't hit back although they tended to tap the other guy every now and then to wind them up.

Rhodes, Thaxton, Nelson, Clifton Mitchell & others were all taking part, and so did Herbie Hide, as this was during his brief spell under Ingle (as trainer). Herbie got caught on the chin by a convict and while he wasn't hurt, he immediately opened up and hurt the other guy. Prince Naz was there but he had a title defence coming up so he didn't actually get into the ring to "box".

It made for a cracking nights' entertainment. Not sure if they still do it. Herol and Brendan used to go round working mens' clubs doing the same thing but on a solo basis.

Herol was twenty years too early, he'd be a big star if he came along now

One other observation; Herol's performance against Johnny Melfah was a sight to behold in my opinion. Melfah had only lost one bout (cuts) going into that, and was heavily hyped as one of the next big things, while some people thought Herol was stale, boring and ready to be deposed as British middleweight champion.

Melfah went back to his corner after the first round with one of the most classic "what the fxxk just happened to me?" facial expressions that I have ever seen ! He didn't land a punch, he was knocked around and hurt and found himself on the floor several times, sometimes because Herol spun him off balance and sent him tumbling after Melfah had tried to land a hay-maker. It was one of the most convincing, spellbinding performances I've ever seen.

Graham won in the 5th round, I think it was his last fight before taking on Mike McCallum for the WBA title. Melfah was never the same again, it was one of those losses that really knackered a guy's confidence. Nothing he had learned in the sport had remotely prepared him to take on someone as unorthodox as Herol Graham.

Even more remarkably, they used to lay out a double page from a newspaper. Herol would have his toes on one edge, his 'opponent' on the other. Both had to remain planted, Herol with his arms behind his back and the other guy had to try and hit him.

Amazing...if true - can't remember who told me now.

A few years ago Ian Darke came out with a good quote about how elusive Bomber Graham was in his prime. Darke said something like..."you could throw a handful of stones at Herol, and you wouldnt even hit him with one". He was a defensive genius.

i must get some more graham fights in my collection.

i've only got the mccallum and jackson fights at the moment.

i still think he's unlucky to lose the mccallum fight.

I can actually lay claim to having done this

A charity day at the Wincobank gym way back when ( early 80's)

To quote Reg Gutteridge " you could not hit him with a bag of rice"

I paid my wedge to charity to face him and did not get close to him. I mean not even within a mile of getting close. He, on the other hand, kept smiling, kept tapping me on the head every now and again. I seem to recall, they were playing Sweet Georgia Brown the whole time.

Well worth £5 for the memory

I cannot begin to think what he would do to most of the current crop at LM, M and SM

Slapsie

Graham was one of our greatest ever fighters. Champion or not.

My particular favourite, Tony Sibson, once remarked, I aint fighting him. It'll be like boxing a bloody limbo dancer.

Would have been a good fight, but I reckon Herol would have took a 15 round decision.

alan minter attests to not being able to lay a glove on the elusive bomber in an exhibition

The worst thing that happened to Graham is when he hooked up with Eastwood and tried to alter his style and be a bit more 'entertaining'.... probably cost him the fight against Mccallum!!....

Howcome the doctor was willing to give Jackson one more round since his eye was all swollen up?

Man Herol should of just ran then.

mercman wrote:He must be one of the best British boxers never to win a World Title. He was very skillful. As an aside, I was driving through Sheffield last year very early one Sunday morning (about 6.00 am) and saw him out doing some roadwork. It was good to see him and good to see him still keeping fit.

He works at a gym in Sheffield - a fancy gym, not a boxing gym, part-time putting your ordinary folk through their paces.

Poor sod was nearly killed a few months ago in nearby Rotherham. Working with some kids in a dilapidated gym, the roof caved in and a big joist missed him by inches. He was very shaken by it.

liamlion wrote:A few years ago Ian Darke came out with a good quote about how elusive Bomber Graham was in his prime. Darke said something like..."you could throw a handful of stones at Herol, and you wouldnt even hit him with one". He was a defensive genius.

I think Julian Jackson might tell you different

Some great stories here. Can't believe he went round challenging people to hit him!

I've seen a video of him with his hands tied behind his back and the other bloke didn't land a punch. Amazing relfexes and body movement.
I've still got Herol beating Charlie Boston on tape. Wonderful performance from Graham, completey broke up Boston's mental stength. Boston and previously come to the UK and rumbled Errol Christie , so it was another of Herol's better wins.

he was actually watching the joist that missed him by inches and dragged his head away at the very last second

if top class boxers couldnt hit him it would be very ironic that he should be taken out by a lump of wood

What a great boxer Herol was. The best British boxer never to win a world title?

I had forgotten what a long career he had too.

I also didn’t recall the 4 year break he had before coming back at age 37.

Did Herol ever get involved in training other fighters? You see quite a few copy his style these days – not many are as effective though.

The second spell of his career was a classic case of him using his wits to " old man" fighters

The win against Chris Johnson ranks as high as any in his career I think as CJ was considered quite a prospect.

I don't know if he does train people, but I am not sure it is wise to copy that style unless the natural ability is there.. for every Naz and Nelson who have the reflexes to pull it off you have a Rhodes and Reid who can look good to begin with but soon get found out

Slapsie

Southpaw Stylist wrote:He could make most boxers miss easily

The most difficult ones are novice boxers, because their shots are the most unpredictable.

Exactly - or throw a shot aiming to miss. he will move his head as soon as he sees the shot thrown and you hope he moves his head into the shot path.

i dont think many guys would be that daft

I seem to recall Graham lost a point in the McCallum fight (low blow or wrestling McCallum to the floor I think) and this cost him a draw or split decision win.

Had he beaten Kalambay in May 1987 he'd, presumably, have been in against somebody for one of the vacant world middleweight titles after Leonard retired. Kalambay went on to beat Iran Barkley and you'd have to have fancied Graham to do the same. Similarly I'd have fancied Graham to have beaten Olajide, Tate and Roldan and who knows, Tommy Hearns beat Roldan for the vacant WBC title and maybe Graham would have had a chance against Hearns.

Such a shame he never won the title at his peak.

At his best, Graham would have been a tough fight for any of them including Hagler, Hearnsm, Duran, Mugabi, Roldon etc.