Herol Graham


Herol Graham is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. He held many regional championships, including the European, British, and Commonwealth light-middleweight titles, as well as the European and British middleweight titles, yet is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of the post-war era to have never won a world title.

Amateur career

Highlights

1976 Junior World Welterweight Champion
1977 Senior ABA Light-Middleweight finalist
1978 Senior ABA Middleweight Champion

Professional career

In 1978, after winning the ABA middleweight title, Graham turned professional, fighting out of Brendan Ingle's gym in the Wincobank area of Sheffield.
Graham went undefeated in his first 38 fights, winning the British, Commonwealth and European light-middleweight titles, as well as the British and European middleweight titles. He eventually lost his unbeaten record defending his European middleweight title against future world champion Sumbu Kalambay in 1987. Graham would go on to fight for world titles twice at middleweight and once at super middleweight. In his first attempt, challenging for the vacant WBA middleweight title, he took Mike McCallum to a close split decision; points deducted for low blows ended up costing Graham the verdict. A year later, in another world title challenge, he lost to Julian Jackson for the vacant WBC middleweight title. After outclassing Jackson for nearly 4 rounds, Graham was knocked out cold before he hit the canvas by the now-famous devastating right cross known as the 'Punch of the Century'.
Four years of inactivity were followed by an unexpected comeback in which Graham put together a series of victories to gain a last shot at a world title in March 1998. Challenging Charles Brewer for his IBF super middleweight title, Graham was stopped in the tenth round. Following this he retired from the ring and now lives in London, working as a personal trainer and specialising in boxing-based exercises.
In February 2009, Graham's son was injured in what police described as a "targeted shooting" at Westfield, Sheffield.
Graham released his autobiography entitled Bomber: Behind the Laughter in 2011.
Graham has ongoing mental health issues from boxing injuries.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
54Loss48–6 Charles BrewerTKO10 28 Mar 1998 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor IBF super-middleweight title
53Win48–5 Vinny PazienzaUD126 Dec 1997 Wembley Arena, London, EnglandRetained WBC International super-middleweight title
52Win47–5 Chris JohnsonTKO8, 2:4012 Jul 1997 London Olympia, London, EnglandWon vacant WBC International super-middleweight title
51Win46–5 Craig JosephPTS84 Mar 1997 Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
50Win45–5 Terry FordPTS826 Nov 1996 Concorde Sports Centre, Sheffield, England
49Loss44–5 Frank GrantTKO9, 2:2023 Sep 1992 Elland Road, Leeds, EnglandLost British middleweight title
48Loss44–4 Sumbu KalambayUD1212 Mar 1992 Pesaro, ItalyFor European middleweight title
47Win44–3 John AshtonTKO6, 2:3410 Dec 1991 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandRetained British middleweight title
46Loss43–3 Julian JacksonKO4, 1:1324 Nov 1990 Torrequebrada Hotel, Benalmádena, SpainFor vacant WBC middleweight title
45Win43–2 Ismael NegronKO3, 1:3711 Apr 1990 Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England
44Win42–2 Rod DouglasRTD9 25 Oct 1989 Wembley Arena, London, EnglandRetained British middleweight title
43Loss41–2 Mike McCallum1210 May 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandFor vacant WBA middleweight title
42Win41–1 Johnny MelfahTKO5 23 Nov 1988 York Hall, London, EnglandRetained British middleweight title
41Win40–1 James CookTKO5 8 Jun 1988 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant British middleweight title
40Win39–1 Ricky StackhouseTKO8, 0:315 Dec 1987 Adwick Leisure Centre, Doncaster, England
39Loss38–1 Sumbu Kalambay1226 May 1987 Wembley Arena, London, EnglandLost European middleweight title
38Win38–0 Charles BostonTKO7 17 Jan 1987 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
37Win37–0 Mark KaylorRTD8 4 Nov 1986 Wembley Arena, London, EnglandRetained European middleweight title
36Win36–0 Ernie RabotteTKO1, 1:5423 Jun 1986 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US
35Win35–0 Ayub KaluleTKO10, 2:105 Feb 1986 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandWon European middleweight title
34Win34–0 Sanderline WilliamsPTS103 Dec 1985 Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
33Win33–0 Roberto Justino RuizTKO2, 1:3316 Oct 1985 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
32Win32–0 Jimmy PriceKO1 24 Apr 1985 Britannia Leisure Centre, London, EnglandWon vacant British middleweight title
31Win31–0 Rose RosemainKO5, 1:326 Mar 1985 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
30Win30–0 Liam ColemanTKO3, 2:0126 Nov 1984 City Hall, Sheffield, England
29Win29–0 Jose SeysTKO6, 1:4716 Oct 1984 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
28Win28–0 Irving HinesKO2 25 Sep 1984 Wembley Arena, London, England
27Win27–0 Lindell HolmesTKO5 22 Jul 1984 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
26Win26–0 Germain Le MaitreTKO8 9 Dec 1983 La Soucoupe, Saint-Nazaire, FranceRetained European light-middleweight title
25Win25–0 Carlos BetancourtKO1 11 Oct 1983 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
24Win24–0 Clement Tshinza2, 1:3723 May 1983 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant European light-middleweight title
23Win23–0 Tony NelsonRTD5 15 Mar 1983 Wembley Arena, London, England
22Win22–0 Hunter ClayPTS1530 Sep 1982 National Stadium, Lagos, NigeriaRetained Commonwealth light-middleweight title
21Win21–0 Fred CoransonPTS1022 Apr 1982 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
20Win20–0 Chris ChristianTKO9, 0:5724 Feb 1982 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandRetained British and Commonwealth light-middleweight titles
19Win19–0 Kenny BristolPTS1525 Nov 1981 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandWon Commonwealth light-middleweight title
18Win18–0 Prince RodneyTKO1, 1:1617 Jun 1981 City Hall, Sheffield, England
17Win17–0 Pat ThomasPTS1524 Mar 1981 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandWon British light-middleweight title
16Win16–0 Lancelot InnisPTS1022 Jan 1981 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
15Win15–0 Larry MayesTKO4, 2:5630 Oct 1980 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
14Win14–0 Joey MackPTS89 Sep 1980 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
13Win13–0 George DanaharPTS822 Apr 1980 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
12Win12–0 Glen McEwanPTS812 Feb 1980 Fiesta Nightclub, Sheffield, England
11Win11–0 Errol McKenziePTS827 Nov 1979 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
10Win10–0 Billy AhearneTKO3 27 Oct 1979 Civic Hall, Barnsley, England
9Win9–0 Lloyd JamesPTS826 Sep 1979 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
8Win8–0 Gordon GeorgePTS816 May 1979 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
7Win7–0 Mac NicholsonPTS827 Apr 1979 Gosforth Park Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
6Win6–0 George WalkerPTS827 Mar 1979 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, England
5Win5–0 Dave SouthwellPTS828 Feb 1979 Executive Sporting Club, Burslem, England
4Win4–0 Dave SouthwellPTS812 Feb 1979 Top Rank Suite, Reading, England
3Win3–0 Jimmy Roberts2 22 Jan 1979 Bradford, England
2Win2–0 Curtis Marsh1 4 Dec 1978 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, England
1Win1–0 Vivian Waite628 Nov 1978 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, EnglandProfessional debut