Herol Graham vs Mark Kaylor

[@bmoran1795]

Just came across this takes me back when boxing was worth watching

[@richardwood1575]

To reach this level in the fight game, you have to be unbelievably tough , along with other attributes of course. Thank you, to two true warriors for the great memories.

[@jeffallinson8089]

Very, very well said sir.

[@mickthompson584]

Herol Graham was a beautiful boxer and such a nice man.

[@mickthompson584]

i met Herol when he was just starting out with Bredan and he was brilliant, couldnt touch him even with his hands tied behind his back.

[@briandinsdale6777]

I was at that fight, travelled down from sunderland and stayed with my mates who lived in watford . It was a great fight contested by two top class boxers, those were the days.

[@MrANDYGEEZER]

I was a big Sibson fan but the utmost respect to Graham & a very tough, game & durable fighter in Mark Kaylor 😉👍🥊

[@Speedz2002]

Always came to fight Kaylor 👏🏾 Herol Graham was softly spoken but was a hard man 🥊

[@BarryCampbell6822]

During his career, my brother sparred a lot of rounds with, among others, Sibson, Lucas, Chris Pyatt, Colin Jones, Milton McCrory, Don Curry Errol and Lloyd Christie and even had 4 rounds work with Mike McCallum; until.the day he passed, he always said, without hesitation, that Kaylor was without a doubt the hardest lad he'd ever been in a boxing ring with. He also used to say that The Bomber fella was denied a world title shot when he was at his peak, and that around the time he defeated Jose Seys he could have beaten anyone.

[@untissify]

What’s your brothers name?

[@10tendogsdonie]

Well said,

[@frozenice61]

herol was amazing,he had incredible balance and footwork,speed accuracy timing and so elusive ,mark was a great fighter no one made him look ordinary not even sibson,this i think showed how good herol was

[@markclitheroe900]

Graham got his world shots when past his best , let down by his management.

[@kc1973able]

@@markclitheroe900 Mmmm 🤔 I’m not to sure about that. He was in fact the next in line for Haglers tittle but Hagler opted for the mega fight with SRL. That’s not his managers problem. He then lost to Sambu Kalumbay in May of 87 and lost his number one world ranking giving Kalumbay the tittle shot with Iran Barkley for the Vacent WBA belt. Graham had to earn his shot at the Vacent WBA belt in May of 89 against Mike the body snatcher mcCallum losing in a very close fight to McCallum. He then hit his second world tittle crack again for another Vacent belt this time for the WBC tittle where he got Brutally KO out in four rounds by one of the hardest hitters the sport has ever seen in Julllian Jackson in November of 1990 🥊

[@serenityinside1]

Exactly- Graham had his chances and didn’t push through to the next level . A ‘ euro+’ level fighter imo. His record flatters him a fair piece.

[@PaulSaether]

@@serenityinside1 If I was ever lucky enough to sit down and have a chat with one of my boxing horoes...that man would be Herol Graham. He was elusive He got on his bike. He lacked a knockout punch. Really? How come, then, that he will always be remembered as Herol 'Bomber'... We were so lucky to see him fight. Hagler and co. didn't want to go anywhere near him and I don't blame them. Herol Graham... One of the greatest boxers It was my pleasure to watch.

[@BikSingh00]

@@kc1973ableHerol Graham was let down by his management, when they picked Sumbu Kalambay as a safe tuneup, while he was waiting for his world title shot against Barkley. Secondly his manager brought in Panamanian trainers who changed his style to make him fight more aggressively, which played into Kalambay’s hands. Kalambay was an experienced box fighter, and the Boxing News predicted it to be a hard fought win for Graham. That was before any news of a split with his trainer. The defeat to Kalambay ruined his chance of a world title shot. Herol was at his peak then. When he did get his chance 2 years later, he was already in decline.

[@markdoughty8780]

These guys were both world-class fighters, here, fighting for the European Middleweight Title. Graham only lost to the very best at the elite level; Kaylor was a bit more inconsistent, and, for me, underachieved over the course of his boxing career. Of course, this was a few years before the Benn, Eubank, Watson, and Collins era - the glory days of British middleweight boxing, albeit Steve Collins was, of course, an Irishman. The Joe Calzaghe years followed them - great days and a very exciting time for British boxing. Thanks for the trip down boxing's memory lane and for uploading.

[@seanscanlon9067]

Kaylor was not world-class and I think that he would probably admit that himself. He was far better than domestic level, was game and win or lose he always came to fight but he was European level at best.

[@g4obb]

Terry Lawless always was careful in agreeing to opponents...he wanted men who could defend, but couldn't attack..he didn't always get his way. If he'd have taken a few more risks Kaylor may have progressed more....boxing's a well dodgy game....MK is my cousin...

[@BikSingh00]

Kaylor was a good fighter and had a lot of heart. He beat some decent men like Roy Gumbs and Errol Christie, but he didn’t have a great defence. He got destroyed by Buster Drayton.

[@markdoughty8780]

@@BikSingh00Agreed - A decent British/European level fighter, but, never quite had what it took to challenge for world honours.

[@Dazlingmagic]

A great fight between two top fighter! Kaylor always featured in great fights and was a real credit to British boxing and Graham, well he was something very, very special! If he had been with the right promoters he may well have been a two time world champion!

[@PaulSaether]

i have been a fan of boxing since Ali was called Cassius Clay. Who was the 2nd best? Sugar Ray Leonard? Nope. Herol Graham. Without a doubt.

[@stevemercedes3692]

The wonderful Paddy Byrne in the short sleeve green shirt at the end. He died just a few weeks ago RIP Paddy 🥊

[@DonkeyDave269]

Was there that night. What a great fight, don’t match them like that anymore. The golden era of British Boxing. Was there supporting The Bomber Fellow, but credit to both men. Real warriors 👍

[@PaulSaether]

Watch those Herol Graham fights again if you are a fan of boxing (Which I'm sure that most of you are). Watch them in slow motion...Which is how his opponents did.

[@DonkeyDave269]

@@PaulSaether that’s because they didn’t see the punches in real time 👍

[@wbamitch]

Watched a couple of exciting Kaylor defeats now, such a tough guy. Herol Graham just a class apart.

[@theartfuldodger6500]

Very game was Kaylor but lacked the guile to win beyond British level. His grudge fight with Christie was great as was his win v Roy Gumbs.

[@serenityinside1]

And his battle with sibson don’t forget .

[@Pulsonar]

0:40 Lloyd Honegan, forever the ‘raggamuffin’ big shot showman, in a massive jacket that even Mike Tyson would have got lost in 😂

[@jamesbyer8321]

Always liked Terry Lawless, he would never see one of his fighters take unnecessary punishment as you see here. He managed and truly looked after some of the best fighters we had back then.

[@markchawner1586]

So near, yet so far for Bomber Graham in terms of World titles .... 🥊🥊

[@robertwendrop4764]

I would never let a fighter of mine take on Herol Graham, a master.

[@markriley5863]

Herol Graham was, in my opinion, the best British boxer never to win a world title.

[@jamietobin4161]

Kirkland Lang as well as Herol I spoke to him about a year ago and he agreed both very talented fighters and funnily enough they both come from Nottingham not that it matters just a interesting little fact cos I thought Herol was from Sheffield until he put me right and what a real gentleman 👍

[@markriley5863]

@@jamietobin4161 I always thought Herol was from Sheffield too. I agree, Kirkland had talent to burn and did not achieve anywhere near his potential. Unfortunately he never really applied himself properly and wasted his innate ability. It is a crying shame. Not many fighters can claim to have beaten a 31 year old Roberto Duran.

[@jamietobin4161]

Mark Riley hello mate just another little thing I always thought Kirkland was from Hackney but a fella who used to own a gym I went to was originally from Nottingham and was on leave from the army one time was on the train and was reading the paper and Kirkland had fought that weekend and was on the back page and also on that train went up to the fella I know and grabbed his paper and showed him the article ripped it out of the paper and said thanks and went on his merry way he also came down the gym I used to box at and while I asked for his autograph I asked him about honeygan and he said in his crazy voice I knock him out all the time in sparing he was a real carriicter and mentioning honeygan I read that he is very ill and I wish him a speedy recovery god bless 👍👍👍

[@mandoprince1]

I would say that Herol Graham was probably the best boxer, at any weight, from anywhere, not to have won a world title. At his best, I would give him a great chance against any middleweight!

[@brianmorley7165]

Yeah your most probably right but I think Tony Sibson would have held a version of a world title too.

[@francisjtuk]

Damn good fighter Kaylor - very game indeed. Bomber Graham was something else though.

[@Colsoloact-po9wv]

Gutsy fighter Kaylor, pity he didn't progress higher but I guess even if he had the likes of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran would have beaten him. Full credit to him though in this fight..Herol was a great fighter too but that KO defeat by Julian Jackson ruined his career and wasn't the same fighter after that!

[@Pulsonar]

Herol Graham once totally out-boxed the living daylights out of the legendary Julian Jackson. Graham made the mistake of going for the TKO. The Hawk let loose one of his heat seekers and bingo! The Bomber was bombed to smithereens... He was never the same boxer after that devastating KO.

[@jeffallinson8089]

That punch would have put a rhino to sleep.

[@PaulSaether]

Watch all Bomber's fights and see just how good he was. Please don't just remember the time a blind, desperate Julian Jackson happened to put his fist in the same place as Bomber's chin. It would be a shame to forget all his wins in a great career.

[@Pulsonar]

@@PaulSaether I remember nearly all of Herol Grahams fights, he was a brilliant boxer. Prince Naseems role model and arguably the most underrated British boxer of all time. Even the likes of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank were keen to avoid crashing into an ageing Bomber that was slowly losing height as they were cruising on the way up early in their careers. Does that sound like I forgot who Herol was and what he did for British boxing?

[@PaulSaether]

Nope. @@Pulsonar

[@fuzzy1237]

Lawless did a great job here. Saved his man

[@jefflamp5367]

Yeh I think Kaylor was spent . He was weight drained for this fight. They said on commentary it was a cut but I dont think that was the reason.

[@markclitheroe900]

And got sued in later years for short changing him on his fight purse.

[@ianbenjamin6248]

Great fight. Kaylor fought hard, but Herol had to much class for him. Herol born and bread in Nottingham, not Sheffield.

[@johnkeane1419]

He was fighting out of Sheffield, though.

[@10marklee]

Two legends

[@larryguilfoyle5731]

I was at this one, both fighters gave value

[@formynexttick2104]

Warriors and gentlemen

[@pauleeley867]

Herol Graham what a fantastic talent, should of been world champion, especially fight with Julian Jackson

[@boum62]

I love the school of boxing that herol g pat cowdell and flloyd jnr premote. Skill is everything. Avoid getting hit.

[@georgealty9009]

Awesome decision by lawless. Well done.

[@PaulSaether]

How good Herol Graham was. A " defensive, negative fighter". Yeah. One who had "Stopped 13 of his last 14 opponents". Marvin Hagler would have nothing to do with him. We need the likes of Herol Graham to entertain and thrill us today.

[@errolljones5334]

Graham very underrated British boxer.

[@serenityinside1]

Whaat?!! Overrated methinks. People on her seem to think he’d have beaten hagler etc etc I reckon. But then they think Laing was a champ despite being Jo’s twice so …

[@stwads]

Great fight & the referee won the Harry Gibbs lookalike contest!

[@paulcolville5972]

Mickey Duff and Mike Barret promoters in the background, the Lawless corner with Frank Black, I'm sure they also handled Jim Watt, Maurice Hope and Charle Magri amongst others, halcyon British boxing days indeed! Always such a nice guy Herol, great natural talent. Hard fight, kudos to both!

[@paulcolville5972]

@mrc121002 Ah how interesting. Sad. But in retrospect perhaps not surprising as boxings always been such a dirty business outside the ropes. I'm actually disappointed in that. Halcyon days in that it brings back my younger days, not so halcyon given the skullduggery it seems!

[@petecernan2568]

Great days of boxing free to watch on tv not as much b s as nowadays graham was a one off should have had fight with hagler now that would have been interesting

[@paulcolville5972]

@@petecernan2568 Yes when even the casual observer knew who the champions were, unlike now with the alphabet meaningless titles and PPV. As for Herol v Hagler you're right, Herol would've certainly had his moments there!

[@PaulSaether]

@@petecernan2568 Hagler didn't want to know. "Why would I get in the ring with someone I couldn't hit?" he said,

[@petecernan2568]

@@PaulSaether absolutely

[@glennturnbull5652]

Mark Kaylor had a heart of a lion and tough as granite. Herol Graham was beautiful to watch. Would have been fantastic if one of them had won a world title. Alas they didn't but both undeniably were class 👏

[@PaulSaether]

You are a boxing fan. You are about 70 years old. Lots of memories, eh. And you know what you are talking about.

[@stuartrobinson2456]

i remember delivering a parcel of goods to a kiosk in Sheffield. the bomber was there by chance and signed my delivery sheet. wish ide kept now. there wasnt an ounce of fat on him and he looked super fit. on politics Mike McCallum insists he was swerved by hagler and hearns

[@teamblitz1990]

When boxing was on terrestrial tv and free

[@serenityinside1]

The good ol days for sure 😊👍👍

[@jimred5700]

Difficult to believe now.

[@jimred5700]

Julian Jackson was such a clever ol` fox. He knew he wasn`t going to land a glove on Herol in the open ring. So, he pulled one the oldest tricks in the Boxing book......feigned being in trouble, lured Herol into the corner and........Boom. I actually think Mark should be proud of this performance. He gave Herol more trouble than Julian did. ( apart from the K.O. !!! )

[@serenityinside1]

Jackson fair piece past his best with an eye so bad he couldn’t fight in Britain- let’s be right !

[@christopherjames375]

Mark kaylor was a good fighter .tall with a long reach and a hell of a WHALOP with both hands

[@PaulSaether]

We could do with a Modern-Day Harry Carpenter too!

[@BikSingh00]

Herol Graham was a class act. So was Harry Carpenter. I loved watching Herol, and loved listening to Harry compliment Herol’s defensive skills.

[@christopherjames375]

Harry carpenter was a good boxing promoter .no what I neanharry .and I just pray to god 1 day ill be the world heavey weight Harry.

[@JonfitzFitzjohn-k6s]

Nice One

[@ErictheViking-w7q]

My brother was in the army with nole graham Herols. Brother r i p. Nole

[@christopherjames375]

Mark kaylor .would have a row .always moving 4 ward .and could pack a whallop especialy the right .

[@adrianboyddodd8007]

The only thing that kept Graham from being a world chamion was his lack of punching power. It always took him too long to put oppoments away.

[@chriswright6245]

Imagine the scenes if he had more pop lol

[@kc1973able]

I do think though Tony Sibson would have been to strong for Graham. Yes he would have been made to look stupid in the first 4 or 5 rounds but SibbO would have gotten to him. Bomber v Hagler = Terrible beating 🥊

[@christopherjames375]

Good solid scrap .Best man won .

[@kevinwood5005]

Always good to see sportsmanship and mutual respect at the end

[@PatrickLake-n1h]

He took a pasting the whole fight

[@cjguy7111]

If kaylor had a harder punch he would of won a european title...he was 1 level below world championship...heavy handed yes...but lacked 1 punch power...as for graham he hung his chin out...when he should of beaten jackson...and never won the world title his skills deserved

[@cjguy7111]

@mrc121002 sibson was my favourite middleweight of that era...he perhaps would have won a world title...but for a marvelous one...sibson had the punch kaylor lacked and was a little cocky when he fought hagler...game but outclassed...but then nobody could touch hagler round this time

[@jefflamp5367]

Kaylor always seemed to give up his reach / height advantage in favour of brawling ?

[@alistairbartlett6569]

Did Mickey Duff kiss Kaylor?

[@markclitheroe900]

Duff wasnt his real name Another Jew making money out of white men fighting.

[@markclitheroe900]

@@RRYYAANNK7 hmm, I'm not surprised to hear that. Duff wasn't even his real name. He had a deal with the Arena owners and Terry Lawless supplied the fighters. After the end of your Dads career I read he took them to court because Lawless was his manager and should've been looking out for his fighters NOT the promoters . I followed your Dads career from start to finish at the time , he was great . Just below world level. At his best he was only beaten by World class fighters. I heard he moved to California and has lived a decent life. So many fighters end up in a bad way so I'm hoping he's happy and healthy ? Do you live there also ? Would love a quick update on how he's doing ? Thanks

[@markclitheroe900]

@@RRYYAANNK7 he'll be about 62 or 63 now I guess ? I wonder how he looks back on it all ? I do hope he's doing ok and is in good health.

[@markclitheroe900]

@@RRYYAANNK7 oh dear , has his health been affected ? I remember reading he worked part time in a gym for a while. I saw a picture of him about 10 years ago , he hadnt put weight on. Still looked good.

[@markclitheroe900]

@@RRYYAANNK7 ah righto.. I was trying to be upbeat and optimistic. Last time I heard him in an interview about 13 years ago he sounded a bit ' slurry ' it was on a phone in with Steve Bunce talking about his fight with Errol Christie, but saw a pic of him and he looked good. Makes you wonder if boxing is worth it. I watched nearly all his fights as they happened, I remember thinking the atmosphere at that Roy Gumbs fight was electric and thinking wow it must be great to be someone like that . I guess I was hoping to hear something better than I was expecting. Not often you get to hear first hand news . I honestly didn't mean any offence Genuine best wishes to you , him and his family .

[@PatrickLake-n1h]

Only one person in it, biased commentary at its worst

[@freddiefreeman4119]

Some boxing Mafia tricks on display here. Kaylor given a break by the ref supposedly to check the eye, just as he was getting battered. Then he was pulled on the said eye injury, when in truth he was getting battered

[@EvoGoody]

Really good fight.

[@PaulSaether]

Don't EVER disparage Herol Graham. History will tell you that he was one of the best boxers to ever climb into the ring.

[@PaulSaether]

just my opinion. Shared by many knowledgeable observers.

[@Micky_84]

Love that Harold bomber Graham style. 🥊👌🏼