SO LONG, GRAHAM
Boxing pays its respects to Graham O’malley, writes Adam Steel
TEESSIDE’S boxing community turned out in force for the funeral of “tough, hard warrior and likeable person” Graham O’malley following the former superfeatherweight’s death last month at the age of 55.
Family man Graham – who was never knocked off his feet as an amateur or pro despite sharing the ring with former world champions like Thierry Jacob and Colin Mcmillan – passed away at his Middlesbrough home from a heart attack following a five-year battle against motor neurone disease.
Hundreds of mourners attended Graham’s service at St Alphonsus Church in North Ormesby, including his old amateur coach John Dryden and ex-professionals Brian Graham and Reg Long.
Former Newcastle heavyweight Manny Burgo and Commonwealth superlightweight champion Glenn Foot’s coach David Binns were also in attendance, along with Graham’s former protege and close friend Chris Riley who acted as a pallbearer.
Riley, a star amateur who captured Junior Olympics bronze and beat Bradley Skeete twice in national schoolboy finals, boxed 12 times as a pro under the guidance of Graham and his former manager Philippe Fondu before retiring with a shoulder problem.
“As tough as he was inside the ring, Graham was a friendly, down-to-earth person outside it who never took life too seriously,” the 30-year-old said.
“He had four daughters and his family always said he treated me like the son he never had, and he was like a father figure to me.
“I saw him every day until about December, and he was always laughing and joking like always, despite his illness.
“Although he was short in stature, he was massively respected in Middlesbrough for his boxing and kind nature,” Riley added. “He loved his family and raising money for charity. He is sadly missed.”
Granite-chinned Graham ran his own security company and went into coaching after retiring in 1992 with an 8-22-1 (4) slate, which featured a spell based in France and distance defeats to several top quality operators such as Mcmillan (twice), Jacob, Richie Wenton (three times) and Daniel Londas.
He loved the adulation that came with being a boxer, and encouraged his fighters to adopt his own no-quit outlook when the going got tough.
“I lost on points to Anthony Crolla, but Crolla broke my nose and two of my ribs,” Riley remembers.“i told Graham I was struggling at the end of the sixth round but he just said: ‘I know, but what’s six minutes of pain for a lifetime of fame?’”
Graham, who was buried wearing a Ricky Hatton T-shirt, leaves wife Leanne and daughters Ellie, Lacey, Carla and Jade. The thoughts of the Boxing News team are with his friends and family.
‘AS TOUGH AS HE WAS IN THE RING, HE WAS FRIENDLY AND NEVER TOOK LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY’