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

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes54Loss48–6 Charles BrewerTKO10 (12)28 Mar 1998 53Win48–5 Vinny PazienzaUD126 Dec 1997 52Win47–5 Chris JohnsonTKO8 (12), 12 Jul 1997 51Win46–5 Craig JosephPTS84 Mar 1997 50Win45–5 Terry FordPTS826 Nov 1996 49Loss44–5 Frank GrantTKO9 (12), 23 Sep 1992 48Loss44–4 Sumbu KalambayUD1212 Mar 1992 47Win44–3 John AshtonTKO6 (12), 10 Dec 1991 46Loss43–3 Julian JacksonKO4 (12), 24 Nov 1990 45Win43–2 Ismael NegronKO3 (10), 11 Apr 1990 44Win42–2 Rod DouglasRTD9 (12)25 Oct 1989 43Loss41–2 Mike McCallum1210 May 1989 42Win41–1 Johnny MelfahTKO5 (12)23 Nov 1988 41Win40–1 James CookTKO5 (12)8 Jun 1988 40Win39–1 Ricky StackhouseTKO8 (10), 5 Dec 1987 39Loss38–1 Sumbu Kalambay1226 May 1987 38Win38–0 Charles BostonTKO7 (10)17 Jan 1987 37Win37–0 Mark KaylorRTD8 (12)4 Nov 1986 36Win36–0 Ernie RabotteTKO1 (10), 23 Jun 1986 35Win35–0 Ayub KaluleTKO10 (12), 5 Feb 1986 34Win34–0 Sanderline WilliamsPTS103 Dec 1985 33Win33–0 Roberto Justino RuizTKO2 (10), 16 Oct 1985 32Win32–0 Jimmy PriceKO1 (12)24 Apr 1985 31Win31–0 Rose RosemainKO5 (10), 6 Mar 1985 30Win30–0 Liam ColemanTKO3 (8), 26 Nov 1984 29Win29–0 Jose SeysTKO6 (10), 16 Oct 1984 28Win28–0 Irving HinesKO2 (10)25 Sep 1984 27Win27–0 Lindell HolmesTKO5 (10)22 Jul 1984 26Win26–0 Germain Le MaitreTKO8 (12)9 Dec 1983 25Win25–0 Carlos BetancourtKO1 (10)11 Oct 1983 24Win24–0 Clement Tshinza2 (12), 23 May 1983 23Win23–0 Tony NelsonRTD5 (10)15 Mar 1983 22Win22–0 Hunter ClayPTS1530 Sep 1982 21Win21–0 Fred CoransonPTS1022 Apr 1982 20Win20–0 Chris ChristianTKO9 (15), 24 Feb 1982 19Win19–0 Kenny BristolPTS1525 Nov 1981 18Win18–0 Prince RodneyTKO1 (10), 17 Jun 1981 17Win17–0 Pat ThomasPTS1524 Mar 1981 16Win16–0 Lancelot InnisPTS1022 Jan 1981 15Win15–0 Larry MayesTKO4 (10), 30 Oct 1980 14Win14–0 Joey MackPTS89 Sep 1980 13Win13–0 George DanaharPTS822 Apr 1980 12Win12–0 Glen McEwanPTS812 Feb 1980 11Win11–0 Errol McKenziePTS827 Nov 1979 10Win10–0 Billy AhearneTKO3 (8)27 Oct 1979 9Win9–0 Lloyd JamesPTS826 Sep 1979 8Win8–0 Gordon GeorgePTS816 May 1979 7Win7–0 Mac NicholsonPTS827 Apr 1979 6Win6–0 George WalkerPTS827 Mar 1979 5Win5–0 Dave SouthwellPTS828 Feb 1979 4Win4–0 Dave SouthwellPTS812 Feb 1979 3Win3–0 Jimmy Roberts2 (6)22 Jan 1979 2Win2–0 Curtis Marsh1 (6)4 Dec 1978 1Win1–0 Vivian Waite628 Nov 1978

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