Herol ‘Bomber’ Graham: Back in ring after hardest fight of all

Watching the recent Moscow World Athletics Championships it was hard to miss Sebastian – Lord these days – Coe’s reminiscing over the epic 1980 Olympic battles in the same stadium with Steve Ovett.

Like myself Coe was, whisper it quietly, a fanatical Chelsea FC fan living in Sheffield, and in love with the vast swathes of countryside surrounding the Steel City that provided us sporty types with a myriad of opportunities to run free. Coe was a southerner, but very much a favoured adopted son of the city. For the remainder of the decade he had one other major rival in the city who could also attest to being The Greatest. He was a boxer. Originally from Nottinghamshire. Herol Graham. Or simply “Bomber” to his many admirers.

Fast forward nearly 30 years to Notting Hill, West London. Graham, who recently celebrated his 54th birthday, is once again centre stage in a boxing ring, lowering his guard and mischieviously telling anyone gloving up: “You’ve got no chance of hitting me. No chance.”

The only person here who might get close is Stewart Nubley, a fellow ex-boxer, who also happens to be Graham’s guardian, partner-in-crime, confidante, business partner and most crucial of all...best friend and daily saviour.

As Graham is constantly called away for more mini bouts with stress-riddled bankers and their perfectly-upholstered other halves, Nubley takes over.

“He’s struggled for a while,” he says of his old friend. “Bomber was definitely pound for pound the country’s best boxer for many years. But basically it’s pretty rubbish the way the sport treats it’s former heroes. I think 10 per cent of every fight purse should go into a trust fund that can’t be touched by the boxer until he retires.