Herol Graham vs Rod Douglas

[@PaulSaether]

I hope Herol is reading these posts and is fully aware of the admiration and love that is being displayed. Herol...Why are you not a trainer? I'd love to hear you commentating too.

[@gregrsvr3947]

He has a book, a good honest read.

[@kyran333]

Chris Eubanks put me on to this fight, cheers Chris.

[@markbailey2417]

Same. Chris summed it up perfectly. Why would you want to fight someone you can´t hit?

[@haitianmaniac74]

Eubank talks this warrior talk stuff but he ducks a worthy challenge

[@ThePtno1]

same haha

[@ianwhitehead5435]

Herol is my favourite ever boxer because I grew up watching him. He fought 3 times for World titles, coming up short against Mike McCallum, an absolute world class performer and a superb ring general, foolishly left his chin exposed to the explosive Julian Jackson who knocked him out after completely outclassing the man from the Virgin Island for 3.5 rounds, and fought superbly well for the best part of 10 rounds against Charles Brewer, flooring the American twice before age caught up with him in round 10 after a good volley of punches from Brewer stopped Graham. European and British Middleweight Champion, European, British and Commonwealth Light Middleweight Champion, World Silver Belt as it's called now at Super Middleweight as part of a superb late 30s comeback list still an excellent career for Herol Graham as a regular world top 10 contender in his time. As a final compliment to Herol, Marvin Hager refused to fight Herol, and so did Chris Eubank, whatever the explanation he gives, so that demonstrates the quality of the craft and skill that Herol possessed in his prime, which ironically prevented him you may say from fighting for the World title in that said prime. An excellent boxer who entertained and dazzled his fans in the ring for over a decade. Thank you so much Herol.

[@xchindit]

Hagler refusing to fight Graham in 1987 wasn't a compliment to Graham. Hagler was washed up at that point and essentially retired after the Mugabi fight, but the IBF wanted him to fight Hearns and the WBA wanted him to fight Graham. All Hagler wanted was one last money fight against Leonard. He had no interest in fighting anyone else.

[@Unknown-ny4ei]

@@xchinditwould haggler have beaten a prime graham though, how do you beat a man you can’t hit and in his prime herol was unhitable at his best

[@BikSingh00]

⁠@@Unknown-ny4ei It is conceivable that had Hagler fought Graham in April of 87 instead of Leonard, that Herol could have won a close fight on points. He was at his peak then, and would have had to be at the top of his game to do it. He was almost impossible to hit cleanly.

[@jamesvickers5998]

Sheffield still loves Herol. Excellent man.

[@ianwhitehead5435]

I read comments about Herol Graham losing to better opponents. In my view, the best 2 opponents that Herol lost to were firstly Mike McCallum and secondly, Sumbu Kalambay. They were better fighters than Graham, knowing how to close the space down in the ring and they beat Graham that way. In terms of the fight against Julian Jackson, he threw that fight away by trying to knock out Jackson, all he had to do was keep his distance and he would have won the fight easily; but he didn't. He won 48, lost 6 fights, and his best titles were the WBC International Title and the European Middleweight Title. His best victories were against Ayub Kalule, Mark Kaylor, Chris Johnson and Vinnie Pazienza. He did indeed open up the path for Nazeem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Kell Brook. Herol Graham's greatest art was his superb skill, a joy to watch, his greatest weakness was his lapses in concentration/arrogance at times. He would have been World Champion otherwise. A hero of my childhood growing in Sheffield he will always be and his place in my heart guaranteed.

[@tintomara6209]

They tried to change his fighting style for the first Kalambay fight, make him more aggressive and he played right into his opponent's hands.He should never have left Brendan.

[@jamescook4116]

A very fair summation of Graham. He was physically quite strong for someone who was known as a defensive fighter. This was one of his best performances. A shame that Douglas had his career ended by this fight. The first Kalambay fight showed just how important Ingle was to Graham. To this day I will never understand why they tried to make him an aggressive come-forward fighter against Kalambay. He probably beats Kalambay with Ingle in his corner and I rate Kalambay very highly. Watching the McCallum fight, does anyone notice that he hurts McCallum with about 5 seconds left in the 12th? If he had done that 30 seconds earlier.....

[@BikSingh00]

@@jamescook4116 His manager Barney Eastwood brought in Panamanian trainers for the Kalambay fight, and decided to make him a more aggressive fighter. Who knows why he did that. It ruined everything that Graham and Ingle had worked for. Eastwood only came onboard about 18 months or so before. It was his decision to pick Kalambay as a safe tuneup, even though he had a very good record. They must have underestimated him because Kalambay had lost to Kalule, two months before Graham beat Kalule. Herol was unbeaten and in his prime. He should never have lost that fight. I was at his fight with McCallum, but this one hurts just as much as his world title defeats. At his peak in 87, he would have had a better chance of becoming world champion.

[@jamescook4116]

I would agree that McCallum and Kalambay were ultimately better fighters than Graham. They both had a better utilization of the jab. However, the 2nd fight with Kalambay is a much more accurate reflection of how their styles meshed. If Graham had fought Kalambay in his normal manner back in 1987, he likely takes a close but clear decision. Kalambay was not comfortable coming forward, Graham played into his hands trying to walk him down back in 87.

[@bazzbazzley]

The great 'bomber, set the template only a very few have been able to follow.' He was an absolute master.

[@jasensyms2295]

just pure class, love the Herol for ever

[@MrAronRobinson]

My word that theme music takes me back!

[@10tendogsdonie]

bomber graham the northern soul dancer, beautiful balance, a beautiful relaxed style, & gentleman in & out of the ring hail Herol,

[@julieheaton1871]

The boss Herol doing his thing...The beautiful masterful Harry Carpenter calling it..Great days..X

[@carlgaffney4081]

I boxed on the same show against a Russian first USSR heavyweigh boxer to box professional out of the soviet Union it was at Wembley me and Henry warton trained together and we stopped at the white house hotel didn't do very good but got paid well had a night in London then then stayed the next day then flew to spain good times

[@thami7044]

I love this fight what brave men herol UK's best defensive fighter a genius in the ring

[@joesanderson2231]

Naz learned everything from bomber Graham this is where the dancing round the ring started

[@fitman42]

bet he didnt learn much from the julian jackson fight lol

[@billshakerley5561]

39:15 Young Johnny Nelson in the background. Lovely ring area. Not a single commercial logo anywhere on the canvas. Great days.

[@jimcameron4672]

Bomber Graham put the Ingles on the map and it was always his style not theirs, Too early a matchup for Douglas and Grahams punch power was always underestimated. Could have been stopped after the first knockdown really Rod had nothing left

[@PaulSaether]

Graham's punch power was unnoticed by some because many people were mesmerised by his defence skills. His nickname was BOMBER for a reason.

[@BikSingh00]

A boxing masterclass from Graham. He looked sharper here than against McCallum in his previous fight. Rod Douglas was a hot prospect, and his promising career was ended.

[@jamesgiles9959]

I loved watching Herrol ❤

[@jamescook8786]

A shame that this fight ended Douglas career. One of Graham’s best performances. Douglas was talented and tough. Too green for a pro like Graham.

[@kyran333]

How did it end his career?

[@MSF2307]

Blood clot on the brain I think. Douglas also handed Nigel Benn is only loss as an amateur in 1986. There used to be an interview with Benn from a talk show in 1995 on here, from after the McClellan fight and Rod Douglas was in the audience and spoke about brain injuries in Boxing. Can’t find it now though.

[@MSF2307]

Found it! Douglas appears around 5 minutes in but the whole thing is worth a watch... m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/iompiGyii5qHnbs

[@kyran333]

@@MSF2307 Thank you, much appreciated 👍

[@marknorris1381]

Douglas also won the gold medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and defeated future Light Heavyweight WBC champion Jeff Harding in the final.

[@Micky_84]

Brilliant boxer. 🥊👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@BikSingh00]

I would loved to have seen Rod Douglas against Nigel Benn. Douglas was the only person to beat Benn as an amateur, in the 85 ABA’s. A defeat that Benn avenged in the 86 ABA’s.

[@gareth1974barrington]

Another great upload

[@joemorgan636]

Got to the 1978, ABA, final middleweight Radford boys Club Midland counties V Tommy Heffron Same Finals as my brother Lloyd

[@logicalnetwork1611]

I remember this boxing match so well. Herol was simply too experienced and talented against Douglas. This was a complete mismatch. Herol is one of the greatest boxers ever never to win a world title. Its amazing when you think what a skilled defensive boxer he was and had an outstanding record. I thought he won against McCallum.

[@PaulSaether]

Wasn't it very close but Herol got a point deducted for throwing McCallum over his shoulder?

[@BikSingh00]

@@PaulSaether He didn’t throw him over his shoulder, and the point deduction was harsh.

[@tueemsyhu4846]

MAN, THIS WAS A FIGHT!Graham was LIT!GIVE DOUGLAS PROPS FOR FIGHTING LIKE A MAD DOG!

[@10tendogsdonie]

& to add the great coach Brendan ingle, who was 1000% a genuine community inspiration,

[@BikSingh00]

Brendan Ingle was not a great coach. Herol Graham gave Ingle some status as a top coach because of his success in the ring. Ingle screwed Graham when he sold his contract to Barney Eastwood for £75000. Herol wanted £25000 of it, but he refused and that’s why they fell out. And that’s why Ingle wasn’t in his corner for the fight against Kalambay. That is the ultimate betrayal.

[@sur1nderpal]

This was very very unlucky for Rod Douglas. Life deals us four aces and our opponent a Royal Flush on rare occasions. This was one. All the best to both of you, as an audience I’m just as culpable.

[@haitianmaniac74]

Assumption of Risk my friend

[@gb1984yt]

Great boxer

[@stevegasparutti8341]

I liked Graham, but he took the pee out of average fighters and lost to better ones. Douglas was no Nigel Benn - he bobbed and weaved and caught opponents. Eubank said he wouldn't fight Herol - but he would have knocked Douglas out in an earlier round.

[@BikSingh00]

Eubank and Douglas sparred together. It was very even. That sparring session was better than a lot of fights. The upload may still be on here.

[@leoseries]

This fight was much too early in Douglas' professional career for an opponent like Graham and it should never have taken place. He took far too many blows to the head coming forward and suffered a severe brain injury in the fight, needing emergency surgery afterwards. He never fought again.

[@haitianmaniac74]

Herol is very physically strong

[@BikSingh00]

Herol was definitely bigger.

[@ErictheViking-w7q]

My brother wos in the army with he’s brother nole r i p nole graham

[@dancmkiii8461]

You have to watch Graham on the edge of your seat because his chin is always a hair's breadth from an opponent's glove!

[@jamescook4116]

So true. It is amazing that he wasn't caught flush and knocked out. Only Jackson managed that and he's the hardest punching middleweight I ever saw.

[@MrANDYGEEZER]

Superb boxer/ fighter until Jackson found him out ☹️

[@michaeldooley5398]

Wrong Herol lost the speed in his legs he started getting caught this is what he said.

[@tintomara6209]

Hmm. That Graham looks a useful prospect. I reckon he'll come unstuck one day fighting like that with his arms down...

[@papalegba6759]

terrible matchmaking from douglas' management.

[@simondelaney6483]

Duff should have known better. The fight could have killed Douglas

[@papalegba6759]

@@simondelaney6483 maybe duff heard graham was washed up or having personal difficulties so took a chance? if not he shoulda known herol was all wrong for douglas.

[@tueemsyhu4846]

ROD DOUGLAS a.k.a. (BLADE).

[@kc1973able]

Graham was sloppy and wrestled did silly things like trip people up. He was great at making you look bad but that’s all. He did great against Mike McCallum that was by far his very best performance but he wasent ever going to be world champion he just wasent good enough especially in that era. Use to make me cringe when he would call out Hagler Jesus Hagler would have murderd him 🥊

[@joemorgan636]

Rod should off not chased him around the ring like idiot let Herol come to you he was never any good on the front foot

[@fitzieo1]

Graham a very illusive Boxer. The Referee here is absolutely terrible. Graham should have been deducted numerous points for illegal infringements