Billy Graham on Fury, Mitchell, Klitschko-Haye, Bellew

WalletInspector · Sep 28, 2011

Good interview I thought, credit to Terence Dooley. It still sounds like Graham loves the game, does anyone think he'd be worth getting on Sky/Boxnation as a pundit? :think

On Murray-Mitchell:

“It was a great fight, just as I’d suspected it would be,” enthused Graham when recalling Mitchell’s eight round stoppage win. “I’d picked John to win even though I’ve rated Kevin since his first pro fight, here was a kid who I always expected would do well but you had to put the [Michael] Katsidis fight [a third round reverse for Mitchell] into the equation. Kevin’s redeemed himself, things didn’t go right for him for Katsidis but [trainer] Jimmy Tibbs did a great job on him to bring him back.

“Jimmy knows how to read a fight, they had perfect tactics for John, who is a very good friend of mine and can be a great fighter – he just needs to learn a few more things. Some sneakier shots, more head movement when coming in and snatching breaks.”

Graham, though, believes that the two men are destined to meet again, with boxing fans the winners if a rematch stacks up to the first fight.

“It is great because neither is at their peak so there is more to come from both. John isn’t done after this. He was too honest in that fight, you can get a lot more out of Murray. He’s always intense, he was on the night, because he’s a pressure fighter and tough as nails, he thought he could do it by marching forward. John can walk through most guys; Mitchell’s a bit too good for that.

“Kevin’s versatile, John needs to get that versatility back and adapt, there’s work to be done on Murray but he will definitely come again. I hope this has changed his mindset, if you’re as tough as him you can walk through some fighters but you will get to the top end one day and find you can’t walk the likes of [Juan Manuel] Marquez down, or Kevin as it goes. John is a tiny bit away, so is Kevin Mitchell, they both just need a lesson here and there – Kevin learned one last year. A rematch would produce.

“Jimmy is a great tactician. Him and his son [Mark] did a great job. Jim’s a great corner man and called it right.”

“There was no bad talk, the talking gets on my ****ing nerves after a while, it is boring. Ali and a few other guys did it in a funny kind of way with wit and that but I don’t see the point if you’re just talking rubbish. I don’t know Kevin that well, but I know John well, and I knew from what I saw from both in the past that there’d be respect. Plus Kevin’s told John that if he wins a title he’ll give John a crack at the rematch, that is a classy move,” he purred before delivering his final assessment on Murray’s potential.

Saying, “John can smarten up a bit. I’m not telling him to jab and move, far from it, but he is a pressure fighter and I deal with pressure fighters so know what it is about, he needs to sneak rests and adapt.”

On Haye:

“I was disappointed, I thought he would gamble, he always does and it is why I like him, he’s the best heavy out there to watch because he usually takes chances,” his opinion of Haye. “I expected him to take more chances but I’ve got to say this, you and I don’t know what his toe felt like. We don’t know how bad the pain was – we really don’t.

“David should have gone for it but if his foot was bad then it was bad, I don’t want to slag the guy down. He won’t retire; he’s earned money but is a little bit too young to walk away. I advocate retiring before you go on for too long but if he retires now then he runs the risk of coming back later on, which is worse.

“David, take a break, there’s no one on the horizon to take out the Klitschkos so you can get one of them again. I wouldn’t advise taking on Vitali after seeing him against [Tomasz] Adamek the other night – I don’t think David should go down that path.”

On Smith-Selby:

“I know Stephen, he came to the Phoenix as an amateur with Paul [Smith] – they’re both friends of mine. People come back from defeats. It is a test of character. Stephen is strong so I am sure he’ll come good, and he’s a great kid with a strong family behind him,” he opined.

“You could see it (the KO) coming after a few rounds. Stephen neglected his own jab coming in and he came in with a straight back, you can’t do that. If you’re on the attack you can’t afford to be upright, especially in that type of fight. It became frustrating for Stephen. Selby planted meatier shots as it went on, really strong punches, and it was no surprise when it did come. Stephen will become a better fighter, he just needs to get his head and upper body moving and not attack with his chin up.”

Selby looks set to take on former titlist John Simpson; Smith is likely to meet the winner. Graham praised Selby’s performance before reiterating that the former champion is destined for big things.

“To knock out Stephen, a fantastic amateur and a good pro in the making, what more can you say, Selby performed great, he’s talented. A few alterations from that performance and Stephen will be back. You don’t know how it (a loss) will affect someone until it happens but he’s young and incredibly talented.”

On Tyson Fury:

Tyson Fury survived a scare on the same night, taking a huge right hand in round three before controversially stopping Nicolai Firtha in the fifth. The visitor was on the wrong end of a beating yet the stoppage looked a premature one given that there were 41 seconds left in the round. Despite that brief lapse of concentration, Graham insists that Fury will continue to improve over the coming years.

“I rate Tyson. I knew he would beat [Dereck] Chisora [in his previous contest] as soon as they made the walk to the ring. You could tell by their body language. He put in a good performance that night. I also really enjoyed his win over Firtha – it was entertaining. I am glad that he’s gradually shed some weight – he looks a lot better.

“I don’t like the way Tyson got caught with that shot in round three but come on, people get hit, hurt and shook in boxing, he didn’t go down, came back and won. I hope he loses more fat, builds muscle and develops his body composition a little bit.

“I’m getting more excited every time I see him. Tyson’s a young kid, he’s a big man and they tend to mature late, forget [Floyd] Patterson, Ali and Mike Tyson, they were the exceptions, heavyweights have always come on late in their career. I think Fury sets things alight a little bit, especially if David does retire.”

Tyson’s figure and one punch power have been the topic of much debate. ‘The Preacher’ thinks that the two are related, arguing that tighter muscle definition would result in heavier hitting from the 6’ 9’’ behemoth.

“I actually think he’d punch harder,” his assessment of Fury’s insistence that he is going to whip himself into better shape. “Boxing is not a beauty contest but Tyson needs more muscle tone, less fat and will be better for it in every department. There’s a lot more he can do with his physique. I’m behind him, he might not go all the way with the Klitschkos around but you never know.

“Historically the division always has someone pop up at the right time to capture the public imagination. Tyson’s got the public onboard, he’s a young kid and we should all get behind him. Tyson is a work in progress. He’s got desire. When you hear he’s fighting you make sure you turn on the TV and watch him.”

On Cleverly-Bellew:

“I know Tony well. Tony’s always had a lot of confidence, he’s a student of the game, a smart guy, I always loved talking boxing with Tony, and he can hit. The big problem is that Nathan has come on well.”

“As a trainer, I wouldn’t have wanted it for either guy just yet but it is great for the fans, brilliant for Sky TV and is a real battle. But I like Tony too much to talk about it properly so all I can say is may the best man win,” declared Graham.
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Smoggy7188 · Sep 28, 2011

Isnt Billy making a return as a trainer? He would be a great addition to Boxnation. Due to his alleged conflict with Hatton I cant see him going to Sky.

Grant1 · Sep 28, 2011

He sounds like he wants to train Murray.

Jonsey · Sep 28, 2011

yeh i get the feeling billy and murray could be together very soon.

red7 · Sep 28, 2011

also sounds like he thinks Bellew will be beaten

roe · Sep 28, 2011

Good read. Cheers for posting Wallet.

Dan684 · Sep 28, 2011

Hows Bellew/Clev good for Sky TV haha.

Mandanda · Sep 28, 2011

Nice Interview, Cheers Wallet.

pathmanc1986 · Sep 28, 2011

Dan684 said: ↑

Hows Bellew/Clev good for Sky TV haha.
Click to expand...

:good:rofl

NO MAS · Sep 28, 2011

A good read, nice one Wallet...:good

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