Guernsey-born boxer aiming high after landing Spanish age-group title
A Guernsey-born boxer has lifted a national U17 title – in Spain.
George Graham won the junior under-66kg division at the El Abierto Nacional de Clubes 2024 and, reflecting on his feat for the Guernsey Press Sport Podcast, said it felt ‘amazing’ to do so.
‘It’s what I’ve been working for for the last two years,’ the 16-year-old said. ‘There’s a video of me two years ago saying that I was going to be national champion in two years – and I made it happen.’
Graham has now been based in Spain for about half his life and took up the sport when a friend of his dad, former Muratti manager Kev Graham, told him about a boxing gym. He quickly became hooked.
Hear a full interview with George Graham on the latest Guernsey Press Sport Podcast
Being 6ft 3in tall, he constantly finds himself taking on shorter, and potentially quite hard-hitting, opponents.
That was particularly true in his national semi-final.
‘I had a very difficult fight in the semi-finals against a very tough kid who, like always, is smaller and stronger than me ... I’m tall and skinny,’ he added.
‘He just came forwards and he did nail me a few times, but to be honest, for every shot I took, I gave him four or five.
‘Then in the final, it was honestly a lot easier than the semi-final. I just outclassed the other kid completely.’
Graham has trained with the Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club when in the island and even coached for them, but being federated in Spain means he cannot compete in any shows locally or in England. But he has considered moving to England in the future and making use of the sparring opportunities for professionals.
‘In a few years I might move to England and I might get my boxing licence there, so I could maybe do a boxing show there one day.’
But, for the time being, the aim is simple.
‘Now I’m national champion, the next thing I want to do is box for Spain.’
