THERE was no prouder man in Ireland on Saturday than Paddy Graham sr after watching grandson Jamie follow in his footsteps by capturing a first Ulster elite title.
The 18-year-old produced a superb performance in his first fight at elite level, forcing a third round stoppage of North Down’s Casey Walsh in the 57kg final – with Irish coach Damian Kennedy among interested observers watching on from ringside.
And it completed a neat piece of symmetry for one of west Belfast’s most famous fighting families.
Clonard legend Paddy sr was 17 when he won his first Ulster senior title at flyweight - before claiming the featherweight crown the following year.
That was way back in 1967 and, 58 years on, Jamie showed he is a chip off the old block, revelling in his moment in the spotlight at Girdwood Community Hub, coming in full of confidence after an impressive underage career.
And dad Peter, who was in his son’s corner, admitted there were a few tears when the talented teenager visited his granda afterwards to deliver the good news.
“Daddy was over the moon.
“I knew it was something Jamie really wanted to do, to win that title. My brother Patrick boxed at featherweight but he never entered the senior elite ranks, then I boxed and did the senior elites twice – both times I was beat in the semi-final, the second time I broke my hand when I was winning the fight.
“So it’s great for my daddy to have somebody else in the family win an Ulster title – we didn’t do it, so it’s great that Jamie did… I actually joked with him the other day that I didn’t want to win it because I knew he was going to come along one day.”
A student at Belfast Met, the Irish University Championships in March are next on the agenda – and victory there would open the door to competing at the World University Championships.
After that, attention will turn to the summer’s Irish U22 Championships, while continuing to develop as part of the Ulster High Performance squad.
But, looking a bit further down the line, Graham’s emergence also adds further spice to what could end up being the hottest division in Ulster by the time the race for Commonwealth Games spots get under way.
Although the Irish Athletic Boxing Association remains aligned with the controversial International Boxing Association (IBA), a vote could take place in the coming months, asking members whether or not they wish to join World Boxing – the rival body whose primary objective is to preserve the sport’s Olympic boxing.
It is expected that World Boxing will soon be endorsed by the International Olympic Council as their official partner for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, while the 2026 Commonwealths in Glasgow could also end up falling under their jurisdiction.
Logistics will be sorted out at a later date but, with their weight classifications moving up in five kilogram sections - rather than the current weight classes used by the IBA- it could see 60kg become highly competitive in Ulster.
Erne’s Rhys Owens is the reigning Irish and Ulster champion at that weight, with the likes of Paris Olympian Jude Gallagher and fellow Commonwealth Games gold medallist Dylan Eagleson – beaten by Owens in Saturday’s lightweight final – more traditionally campaigning at 57kg.
A move up is much more likely than contemplating a move down to 55kg, with the growing Graham expected to be in the same bracket should the situation arise.
For now, though, his father is focusing on building Jamie into elite level – with the weekend the perfect way to start.
“It was brilliant,” said Peter Graham.
“He was really looking forward to it, his first elite fight, he was excited to box with no headgear as well… he was really up for it, him and Casey had sparred a few times, they’re both part of the Ulster high performance elite squad up in Jordanstown.
“He was in very good form, very sharp from the first bell and he looked strong in there. He deserves it - he’s been training from he was six years of age, he loves the sport, gives everything to it. He just lives and breathes boxing.”
“We want to bring him along steady; that was his first elite fight, so we don’t want to rush him too much. But on his day our Jamie can mix it with the best of them.”
TRIBUTES PAID TO HOLY FAMILY COACH STOREY JR
IRISH boxing is mourning the loss of Gerry Storey jr, who passed away on Sunday morning.
Son of legendary Holy Family GG, Belfast coach Gerry sr, brother of 1984 Olympian Sam, Gerry jr came from considerable fighting stock, and would go on to become a multiple Irish and Ulster champion - boxing at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh before later turning pro.
After hanging up his gloves, Storey followed in his father’s footsteps by moving into coaching at Holy Family, where he continued his winning ways, coaching numerous champions.
A familiar figure on the Ulster and Irish boxing scene, tributes have poured in from clubs across the country during recent days, with former world middleweight champion Brian Magee lauding “a gentleman and a fab boxing coach”.
“Deepest sympathies to all the Storey family at this awful time,” read a statement from the Ulster Boxing Council.
“We just finished the Ulster elites, of which Gerry was a past winner on multiple occasions.”
The County Antrim Board said Storey would be “missed by all the boxing family”.
“Gerry jr was an instrumental part of the world famous Holy Family GG, firstly as a boxer who done it all, and more recently as a coach.”