WILLIAM ‘BILLY’ GRAHAM (MNZM)
One often hears stories of how ‘boxing saved me’; in the case of a troubled (and trouble-making) youth from Naenae, this one is true. Billy Graham grew up in the two miles of Lower Hutt known as ‘struggle town’ and he was always hungry. Stealing food became a hobby, until he was caught coming out of Griffin’s biscuit factory with about six month’s supply of mallow puffs. Local police officer, Hoppy Hodges, was growing tired of this hyper-active tearaway, but knew what to do with him.
Legendary New Zealand trainer, Dick Dunn operated a boxing club at Naenae Park and Billy Graham knew he was home from the second he stepped through the door. Mr Dunn took him under his wing and harnessed the seemingly endless energy into training and competing. With local names such a Tommy Dunn, Rex Redden, and Wally Coe to train with, Billy quickly developed into a championship-caliber boxer and was soon winning as he pleased in amateur tournaments all over New Zealand. He won the national, light-welterweight title on four occasions – 1964 -1966 -1967 and 1972 and was the losing finalist twice; 1969 (to Ali Afakasi) and 1973 (to David Jackson). He won the prestigious Jameson Belt, for the most scientific boxer in 1967 and was Australasian champion the same year.
There is no disputing that Billy’s amateur career was outstanding and big things were expected of him in the professional ranks. Bob Jones (boxing manager, writer, and future Knight of the Realm) wrote the following about young Billy:
“Wellington boxing fans should mark down young Billy Graham in the back of their minds as a future professional champion who will fill their Town Hall, for the Hutt Valley boxer is showing all the signs of following in the footsteps of two post-war greats in Barry Brown and Manuel Santos. At 18, Billy Graham in the nick of time for the W.B.A, who currently sadly lacks a local hero, is an amateur prospect with all the necessary qualifications to make the grade in the professional ring after perhaps another year in the amateurs.”
‘Another year’ came and went but Billy, following one of the best pieces of advice he ever received from Dick Dunn, remained in the amateur ranks. When he was 28 his coach, mentor, father-figure, and teacher gave him yet another piece of solid advice; he told him it was time to stop boxing. Billy left the competitive side of the sport after more than 15 years in the game, though – like many others before him – the fighting spirit lingers. Something else that stayed with him was the dream he used to recite over and over to his sister; ‘one day I will have my own gym, with pictures of champions on the walls and rocks with all the heavyweight champions names on them all around the outside’ (or words to that effect).
At the age of 57 Billy realised a boyhood dream when he opened the Naenae Boxing Academy. It was Billy’s time with Dick Dunn that inspired him to create the same environment that had helped him succeed so many years earlier. The academy was full from day one and has remained so ever since, with as many young people on the wait-list to gain entry as there are learning boxing (and life) skills on the inside. The academy was so successful that communities across New Zealand wanted their own version. Demand was so high that, in 2018, the Billy Graham Youth Foundation (BGYF) was established, and academies similar to that in Naenae continue to pop-up around the country.
Boxing saved Billy Graham, his Naenae Academy – and others like it – continue the work and legacy of not only Dick Dunn, but of Billy Graham too.
HO 2023
