Herol Graham
Born (1959-09-13) 13 September 1959
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
NationalityBritish
Other namesBomber[1]
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (182 cm)
Reach77 in (196 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights54
Wins48
Wins by KO28
Losses6
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  England
English National Championships
Gold medal – first place 1978 London Middleweight

Herol Graham (born 13 September 1959) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. A three-time world title challenger, he is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of the post-war era to have never won a world championship.[2] He beat Champions Lindell Holmes, Ayub Kalule and Vinny Pazienza.

Amateur career

Highlights

1976 Junior World Welterweight Champion (beat John Mugabi in final)

1977 Senior ABA Light-Middleweight finalist (lost to Steve Hopkin)

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 a punch to the back of McCallum's head 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'.[2]

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.[3]

Graham released his autobiography entitled Bomber: Behind the Laughter in 2011.[2]

Graham has ongoing mental health issues from boxing injuries.[1]

Personal life

Graham's parents are Jamaican.[4]

Professional boxing record

54 fights 48 wins 6 losses
By knockout 28 3
By decision 20 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
54 Loss 48–6 Charles Brewer TKO 10 (12) 28 Mar 1998 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US For IBF super-middleweight title
53 Win 48–5 Vinny Pazienza UD 12 6 Dec 1997 Wembley Arena, London, England Retained WBC International super-middleweight title
52 Win 47–5 Chris Johnson TKO 8 (12), 2:40 12 Jul 1997 London Olympia, London, England Won vacant WBC International super-middleweight title
51 Win 46–5 Craig Joseph PTS 8 4 Mar 1997 Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
50 Win 45–5 Terry Ford PTS 8 26 Nov 1996 Concorde Sports Centre, Sheffield, England
49 Loss 44–5 Frank Grant TKO 9 (12), 2:20 23 Sep 1992 Elland Road, Leeds, England Lost British middleweight title
48 Loss 44–4 Sumbu Kalambay UD 12 12 Mar 1992 Pesaro, Italy For European middleweight title
47 Win 44–3 John Ashton TKO 6 (12), 2:34 10 Dec 1991 City Hall, Sheffield, England Retained British middleweight title
46 Loss 43–3 Julian Jackson KO 4 (12), 1:13 24 Nov 1990 Torrequebrada Hotel, Benalmádena, Spain For vacant WBC middleweight title
45 Win 43–2 Ismael Negron KO 3 (10), 1:37 11 Apr 1990 Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England
44 Win 42–2 Rod Douglas RTD 9 (12) 25 Oct 1989 Wembley Arena, London, England Retained British middleweight title
43 Loss 41–2 Mike McCallum SD 12 10 May 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, England For vacant WBA middleweight title
42 Win 41–1 Johnny Melfah TKO 5 (12) 23 Nov 1988 York Hall, London, England Retained British middleweight title
41 Win 40–1 James Cook TKO 5 (12) 8 Jun 1988 City Hall, Sheffield, England Won vacant British middleweight title
40 Win 39–1 Ricky Stackhouse TKO 8 (10), 0:31 5 Dec 1987 Adwick Leisure Centre, Doncaster, England
39 Loss 38–1 Sumbu Kalambay UD 12 26 May 1987 Wembley Arena, London, England Lost European middleweight title
38 Win 38–0 Charles Boston TKO 7 (10) 17 Jan 1987 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
37 Win 37–0 Mark Kaylor RTD 8 (12) 4 Nov 1986 Wembley Arena, London, England Retained European middleweight title
36 Win 36–0 Ernie Rabotte TKO 1 (10), 1:54 23 Jun 1986 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US
35 Win 35–0 Ayub Kalule TKO 10 (12), 2:10 5 Feb 1986 City Hall, Sheffield, England Won European middleweight title
34 Win 34–0 Sanderline Williams PTS 10 3 Dec 1985 Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
33 Win 33–0 Roberto Justino Ruiz TKO 2 (10), 1:33 16 Oct 1985 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
32 Win 32–0 Jimmy Price KO 1 (12) 24 Apr 1985 Britannia Leisure Centre, London, England Won vacant British middleweight title
31 Win 31–0 Rose Rosemain KO 5 (10), 1:32 6 Mar 1985 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
30 Win 30–0 Liam Coleman TKO 3 (8), 2:01 26 Nov 1984 City Hall, Sheffield, England
29 Win 29–0 Jose Seys TKO 6 (10), 1:47 16 Oct 1984 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
28 Win 28–0 Irving Hines KO 2 (10) 25 Sep 1984 Wembley Arena, London, England
27 Win 27–0 Lindell Holmes TKO 5 (10) 22 Jul 1984 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
26 Win 26–0 Germain Le Maitre TKO 8 (12) 9 Dec 1983 La Soucoupe, Saint-Nazaire, France Retained European light-middleweight title
25 Win 25–0 Carlos Betancourt KO 1 (10) 11 Oct 1983 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
24 Win 24–0 Clement Tshinza KO 2 (12), 1:37 23 May 1983 City Hall, Sheffield, England Won vacant European light-middleweight title
23 Win 23–0 Tony Nelson RTD 5 (10) 15 Mar 1983 Wembley Arena, London, England
22 Win 22–0 Hunter Clay PTS 15 30 Sep 1982 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria Retained Commonwealth light-middleweight title
21 Win 21–0 Fred Coranson PTS 10 22 Apr 1982 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
20 Win 20–0 Chris Christian TKO 9 (15), 0:57 24 Feb 1982 City Hall, Sheffield, England Retained British and Commonwealth light-middleweight titles
19 Win 19–0 Kenny Bristol PTS 15 25 Nov 1981 City Hall, Sheffield, England Won Commonwealth light-middleweight title
18 Win 18–0 Prince Rodney TKO 1 (10), 1:16 17 Jun 1981 City Hall, Sheffield, England
17 Win 17–0 Pat Thomas PTS 15 24 Mar 1981 City Hall, Sheffield, England Won British light-middleweight title
16 Win 16–0 Lancelot Innis PTS 10 22 Jan 1981 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
15 Win 15–0 Larry Mayes TKO 4 (10), 2:56 30 Oct 1980 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, England
14 Win 14–0 Joey Mack PTS 8 9 Sep 1980 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
13 Win 13–0 George Danahar PTS 8 22 Apr 1980 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
12 Win 12–0 Glen McEwan PTS 8 12 Feb 1980 Fiesta Nightclub, Sheffield, England
11 Win 11–0 Errol McKenzie PTS 8 27 Nov 1979 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
10 Win 10–0 Billy Ahearne TKO 3 (8) 27 Oct 1979 Civic Hall, Barnsley, England
9 Win 9–0 Lloyd James PTS 8 26 Sep 1979 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
8 Win 8–0 Gordon George PTS 8 16 May 1979 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England
7 Win 7–0 Mac Nicholson PTS 8 27 Apr 1979 Gosforth Park Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
6 Win 6–0 George Walker PTS 8 27 Mar 1979 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, England
5 Win 5–0 Dave Southwell PTS 8 28 Feb 1979 Executive Sporting Club, Burslem, England
4 Win 4–0 Dave Southwell PTS 8 12 Feb 1979 Top Rank Suite, Reading, England
3 Win 3–0 Jimmy Roberts TKO 2 (6) 22 Jan 1979 Bradford, England
2 Win 2–0 Curtis Marsh RTD 1 (6) 4 Dec 1978 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, England
1 Win 1–0 Vivian Waite PTS 6 28 Nov 1978 Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, England

References

  1. 1 2 "A tale of sorcery and sadness: The tragic story of Herol Bomber Graham". Independent.co.uk. 29 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Herol Graham: I'm fine being British boxing's nearly man | the Voice Online".
  3. ↑ "Bomber Graham's son shot in feud". www.thestar.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Johnny Nelson (24 July 2020). "Johnny Nelson reveals how trainer Brendan Ingle sought to combat racism through education". Retrieved 17 March 2021.
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