Herol Bomber Graham vs Hagler

[southpaw_outlaw]

In the mid 80's when Bomber was being avoided like the plague, would he have beaten Hagler, whaddaya think? Why did Sibson get a shot at Marvin but Herol didnt? I think it would have been a terribly close fight, Bomber could box the shit outta anyone IMO. He only lost to Jackson cos he got caught trying to stop him, after givin him a boxing school...Bomber was his own worst enemy mentally though, always havin women problems, thats why he lost to Kalambay and McCallum, before his fights with these guys his head wasn't right, but in the mid 80's he was flush and was ready to do anybody and make them look like a fool..I am a fan of both Hagler and Bomber (but coming from Sheffield Bomber is my man) but I reckon he would have beaten Hagler on his day...unlike Sugar Ray who relied on the judges to give him the sentimental votes...BTW Bomber was a true gent, I used to go and see him at his jewellery stall in Sheff Market and he was always cool, I was just a kid and very overawed but he acted like he was just another geeza..of course he wasn't he was a legend!

[Purist]

Probably. Hagler didn't want to fight him and he had very good reason not to.

[SimonH]

Why did Sibson get a shot at Marvin but Herol didnt?

Because in 1983 Bomber was a Junior Middleweight!

IMO style wise, yes Herol had it in him to beat an old Hagler...

But Graham lacked in the mental aspects of the sport, he did not respond well to pressure. He would of struggled mentally in the build up, if he fought Hagler instead of Mugabi.

I am sure he would of made Hagler look stupid in parts, but eventually Hagler would of overwhealmed him: Hagler TKO9.

[southpaw_outlaw]

christ, it was in 83 when sibbo fought hagler wernt it! But the point is how come sibbo got his chance but Graham didn't? Sibbo was made for Hagler, with his style, Hagler ate him like a bacon sarnie. Maybe Hagler would have caught up with Graham, and yep maybe he may have stopped him, but Graham in his prime was stopped only once, and that was by one of the biggest hitting middleweights ever...only when he was about 86 did Graham succumb to pressure, against Brewer, even then he was whuppin Brewers' arse until the end...

[SimonH]

Graham was prone to stupid mistakes in big fights.

The lackluster performance that cost him his '0' and #1 ranking against Kalambay in 87.

The stupid throw that cost him a point and a draw with McCallum in 1988.

The arrogance and lack of respect that cost him the Jackson fight...

IMO all signs that Graham choked at the very highest level.

[southpaw_outlaw]

here's the story behind why he got ko'd v Jackson. Before the fight he had just had a new set of crowns put in his teeth. Jacko knocked one of them out in round 3...so Herol go's out in Rnd 4 mad as fuck andtried to ko him...we all know what happened next...

[cockey cockney]

Late stoppage scored for Mavellous Marvin IMO. Round 9/10.

[Kev]

Graham was prone to stupid mistakes in big fights.

The lackluster performance that cost him his '0' and #1 ranking against Kalambay in 87.

The stupid throw that cost him a point and a draw with McCallum in 1988.

The arrogance and lack of respect that cost him the Jackson fight...

IMO all signs that Graham choked at the very highest level.

Plus after that knockout to Julian Jackson he was even more chinny than Roy Jones. I seem to remember him struggling to hold on to his license for his final few fights as the bbbc thought that one good punch could kill him.

[LBSCFC]

i remember they were slated to meet in 86 and Hagler said that hed never even heard of Bomber.

haglers skills were on the slide at that time and had they met i think the elusive Graham was very capable of taking a decision but only if he gave 100 percent concentration through the whole 12 rounds