A PROUD family tradition will continue when Jamie Graham steps between the ropes at this month’s Ulster Elite Championships – with the Clonard ace determined to emulate granda Paddy by claiming the featherweight title.
Ulster’s premier competition takes place at Belfast’s Girdwood Community Hub from January 22-24, with plenty of up-and-coming talent chomping at the bit, while established boxers from across the north bid to cement their status.
Graham, though, has a little bit more motivation than most.
His granda was 18 when he won his first Ulster senior title at flyweight, before moving up and claiming the featherweight crown the following year. That was way back in 1967 and, 58 years on, following in those footsteps is a big incentive for Jamie.
“That’s my main drive to win these Ulster elites – my granda won the same title years ago, and I’d love to do the same,” said the 18-year-old.
“I’ve always been in and around boxing, I love it. He loves it too, he always sits and watches my fights, and before every fight he tells me not to tell him the decision, just let him watch it. He doesn’t like knowing.
“He’s always a good man for advice after.”
Paddy Graham was cruelly overlooked for a place on the Northern Ireland team that travelled to the 1966 Empire Games in Jamaica but, with the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow moving into view, his grandson hopes to be in the reckoning by the time selection comes around.
To get there, however, he could have to battle his way out of the most competitive weight classes in Ireland, never mind Ulster. Already at 57kg are Commonwealth gold medallists Jude Gallagher and Dylan Eagleson while, looking at the national picture, Ratoath’s Gavin Ryan recently won a first Irish elite title and looks a force to be reckoned with.
Graham has sprouted up four inches, to 5′10″, in recent years and could find himself outgrowing featherweight should that rapid rate of growth continue. That’s why, for now, he is content to take things one step at a time.
The Ulster elites will see him box without a headguard for the first time, and his aim is simply to remain on the same upward trajectory.
“Obviously I’d love to go to the Commonwealths, but my goal is just to get better every day, and improve as much as I can. Whatever happens after that will happen.
“I’ve been back training since before Christmas, I’ve done a few spars without the headguards and I’m happy enough. I actually think that, with my head movement, it will suit me better.”
And he has taken considerable confidence from an impressive showing at October’s World Youth Championships in Montenegro.
While so much of the post-tournament focus fell on gold medallists Adam Olaniyan and Kyla Doyle, Graham travelled to Budva as the least experienced member of the Irish team, in international terms.
Having lost four close Irish finals before finally getting over the line, he had to wait for his opportunity – and when it came along, the Belfast teenager grabbed it with both hands, winning two bouts before bowing out just before the medal stages.
“I feel like I’ve improved loads as a boxer because of that experience, getting international competition, seeing different countries box and train, watching how they do things… all that has made me a lot better.
“And then we were training with the high performance coaches and the U22 team down in Abbotstown, leaning new things every day. All that has brought me on and made me better.
“Going out there, on paper, I was probably the most underrated on the whole team. All the boys were all medallists, they’d all beaten European medallists, World champions, I was the only one who hadn’t really done anything internationally.
“I’d just won my first Irish title so, when I did so well, it was a bit of a shock. I was happy just to go over, take part and learn from the experience but when I won the first fight, I grew in confidence.
“After that, I felt more at home; I knew I could give it a shot. Because when you’re training with the likes of Adam, they’re inspirational… wee small bits of advice they probably don’t realise makes a difference, but it does when you’re in there.”
In his last tournament as a youth boxer, it paid off – but now he will be mixing with the big boys.
And, having watched how friend and sparring partner Louis Rooney has grabbed the bull by the horns in his first year as an elite boxer, Graham hopes to follow suit.
“Even though I’ve shot up, Louis is still nearly the same size as me – he’s the biggest 48 in the world,” he laughs.
“The weight is the hard part, but I couldn’t go a day without training anyway. I’m still fit and sharp. I don’t really think there’s anything for me to be nervous about – there’s nothing really expected of me, so I’m confident.”
*****************
TRIBUTE PAID TO FORMER IMMACULATA COACH
THE Immaculata club is in mourning following the passing of former coach, Gerard McParland.
The west Belfast man died last Friday, and his funeral will take place at St Peter’s Church at 11am this Friday.
McParland’s father, Mickey, boxed for the Mac long before his son got involved with the club in the late Noughties, playing an active part in the development of some of the stellar crew of young talent coming through the ranks at the minute.
Renowned Mac man Gerry ‘Nugget’ Nugent recalled how, with indoor training forbidden during the Covid pandemic, McParland was part of the coaching team that ensured work was able to continue outside.
“We have a great wee squad at the minute, and Gerard played his part in that.
“Big Gerard was a good friend of mine – he always fell out with you, then came back. That was the sort of him. But he was a real good fella, a big gentleman when you got to know him, and the kids loved him.
“He was well known around the boxing scene – he made himself known. It’s a sad time for the club and everybody in the community.”
