| Herol Graham | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Herol Graham |
| Nickname(s) | Bomber |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Nationality | English |
| Born | 13 September 1959 Nottingham, England |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 54 |
| Wins | 48 |
| Wins by KO | 28 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Herol 'Bomber' Graham was born in Nottingham, England on 13 September 1959 and is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of the post-war era never to have won a world title.
After winning the ABA light-middleweight title he turned professional in 1978 fighting out of Brendan Ingle's gym in the Wincobank area of Sheffield.
He became well known for putting on 'shows' in pubs and clubs in Sheffield in which he would invite members of the audience to try to hit him whilst having his hands behind his back. He was so quick no one could ever lay a glove on him.
He went 38 fights undefeated, winning the British, Commonwealth and European Light-Middleweight titles and the British and European Middlewight titles. He eventually lost his unbeaten record in a European Middleweight Title defence to future world champion Sumbu Kalambay in 1987. Herol fought for world titles three times at Middleweight and Super-Middleweight. In his first attempt, he gave the respected champion Mike McCallum one of his hardest defences, losing a close decision. Points deducted for low blows cost him the verdict. A year later, in another world title challenge, he lost to feared puncher Julian Jackson after out-boxing him and nearly stopping him. The one punch that struck Herol knocked him out cold, before he hit the canvas.
Four years of inactivity were followed by an unexpected comeback. Herol put together a series of impressive victories to gain a last shot at a world title in March 1998. Challenging American Charles Brewer for the IBF super middleweight title he was stopped in the tenth round. He then retired from the ring and now lives in the Dore area of Sheffield, working as a Personal Trainer in partnership with Terry Carbendama at Virgin Active is Sheffield, specialising in boxing based exercises.
In February 2009 his son was injured in what police described as a targeted shooting at Westfield, Sheffield.
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ayub Kalule |
EBU Middleweight Champion 5 February 1986 - 26 May 1987 |
Succeeded by Sumbu Kalambay |
| Preceded by Tony Sibson Vacated |
British Middleweight Champion 8 June 1988 - 23 September 1992 |
Succeeded by Frank Grant |
1976 Junior World Welterweight Champion (beating John Mugabi in final)
1977 Senior ABA Light-Middleweight finalist (lost to Steve Hopkin)
1978 Senior ABA Middleweight Champion