A defensive master with a TITANIUM chin, but unfortunately without a big payoff ko punch...an undersung, understated, skillwise master boxer, mechanic who, much like my guy Jimmy Young, never got the big break..a fearless, busy, industrious typical 50's professional...an ATG??? I don't know to be honest, but probably so close to being one that it wouldn't matter in the big picture of things...though by not being lucky enough to win a title, he may be considered "on the outside looking in"...with his nose pressed to the display window, so to speak.
I wouldn't necessarily say that he was a defensive master but he had a solid defense and a very solid chin to go along with it, which allowed him to take the occasional landed punch without any effects. Basically he was near impossible to stop, and almost as difficult to outbox. A very tough opponent for any welterweight.
I agree with you. A solid technician with good fundamentals, chin down - hands up sort of defence. And he was busy with his shots, especially his jab. Reminds me of Barney Ross.
Ah, Billy Graham..As a kid my dad took me to St. Nick's Arena in the early 1940s, and while we were going through the turnstyle, a young kid holding a small bag, was waived through, without a ticket..Turned out to be young Billy Graham who was fighting a prelim bout...Billy was a great boxer, with an iron chin. He was also a great infighter.Graham though lacked the punching power that would have made him a top 10 alltime great. Billy only kod 26 opponents in 126 bouts.. But lacking that power Graham was good enough to more than hold his own withe Gavilan, Basilio,and Giardello... A great classic boxer with a granite jaw, who was NEVER kod in 126 fights...
I think Graham was one of those fighters who was good enough to hold his own with the greats, but perhaps not necessarily great himself; perhaps somewhat similar to Ken Norton. Graham could look spectacular against ordinary contenders, but against upper echelon opponents he tended to fight very tentatively and often did just enough to fall short.
An excellent technical boxer. Very subtle with his defense, especially his head movement. He'd miss punches by inches. I think I might have to re-watch his third fight with Gavilan (though I've already seen it twice for this reason) to get a different perspective. The first time I watched I had it wide to Gavilan, the second time closer, and upon even closer inspection it's possible I mis-judged the quality of blows/overall work that Gavilan was able to do. Not saying Graham won, mind you, just that it's a very interesting one to score.
