# Herol Graham

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. 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'.
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.

## Personal life

Graham's parents are Jamaican.

## 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 | |