Herol Graham

Herol "Bomber" Graham (born 13 September 1959 in Nottingham, England) is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of the post-war era never to have won a world title.^[2]

In 1978, after winning the ABA middleweight title, he turned professional, fighting out of Brendan Ingle's gym in the Wincobank area of Sheffield.

He became well known for his appearances in pubs and clubs in Sheffield where he would invite people to try to hit him while having his hands behind his back. He was so quick no one could ever lay a glove on him.

Graham 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 took Mike McCallum to a close decision. Points deducted for low blows cost him the verdict. A year later, in another world title challenge, he lost to Julian Jackson in another closely fought contest. The right hook that struck Graham knocked him out cold before he hit the canvas.^[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 American Charles Brewer for the IBF super middleweight title, he was stopped in the tenth round. Graham then retired from the ring and now lives in London, working as a personal trainer. He specialises 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.^[1]

Amateur accomplishments

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 boxing record

48 Wins (28 knockouts, 20 decisions), 6 Losses (3 knockouts, 3 decisions)
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	30–5	Charles "Hatchet" Brewer	TKO	10	28 March 1998	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	IBF World Super Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	41–6	Vinny Paz	UD	12	6 December 1997	Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom	WBC International Super Middleweight Title. 116–113, 118–113, 117–112.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–0	Chris Johnson	TKO	8	12 July 1997	Kensington Olympia, Kensington, London, United Kingdom	WBC International Super Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–3–1	Craig Joseph	PTS	8	4 March 1997	Elephant and Castle, Southwark, United Kingdom	80–76.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–7	Terry Ford	PTS	8	26 November 1996	Concorde Centre, Sheffield, United Kingdom
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	19–3	Frank Grant	TKO	9	23 September 1992	Elland Road, Leeds, United Kingdom	BBBofC British Middleweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	53–5–1	Sumbu Kalambay	UD	12	12 March 1992	Pesaro, Italy	EBU Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–7–1	John Ashton	TKO	6	10 December 1991	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	BBBofC British Middleweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	40–1	Julian Jackson	KO	4	24 November 1990	Torrequebrada Hotel & Casino, Benalmadena, Spain	WBC World Middleweight Title. Graham knocked out at 1:13 of the fourth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–6	Ismael Negron	KO	3	11 April 1990	Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, United Kingdom	Negron knocked out at 1:37 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–0	Rod Douglas	TKO	9	25 October 1989	Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom	BBBofC British Middleweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	35–1	Mike McCallum	SD	12	10 May 1989	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom	WBA World Middleweight Title. 117–114, 115–117, 114–115.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–1	Johnny Melfah	TKO	5	23 November 1988	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	BBBofC British Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–7	James Cook	TKO	5	8 June 1988	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	BBBofC British Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–4–1	Ricky Stackhouse	TKO	8	5 December 1987	Adwick Leisure Centre, Doncaster, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 0:31 of the eighth round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	41–3–1	Sumbu Kalambay	UD	12	26 May 1987	Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom	EBU Middleweight Title. 115–116, 113–116, 114–116.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–3	Charles Boston	TKO	7	17 January 1987	King's Hall, Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32–3	Mark Kaylor	TKO	8	4 November 1986	Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom	EBU Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–12–1	Ernie Rabotte	TKO	1	23 June 1986	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:54 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	46–3	Ayub Kalule	TKO	10	5 February 1986	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	EBU Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:10 of the tenth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–3	Sanderline Williams	PTS	10	3 December 1985	Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom	99–97.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34–3–1	Roberto Justino Ruiz	TKO	2	16 October 1985	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 1:33 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–1	Jimmy Price	KO	1	24 April 1985	Britannia Leisure Centre, Shoreditch, London, United Kingdom	BBBofC British Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–3–1	Jose Rosemain	KO	5	6 March 1985	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom	Rosemain knocked out at 1:32 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–9–2	Liam Coleman	TKO	3	26 November 1984	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 2:01 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–3–1	Jose Seys	TKO	6	16 October 1984	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 1:47 of the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–7–1	Irving Hines	KO	2	25 September 1984	Empire Pool, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–2	Lindell Holmes	TKO	5	22 July 1984	Bramall Lane, Sheffield, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	41–3–7	Germain Le Maitre	TKO	8	9 December 1983	La Soucoupe Stadium, Saint-Nazaire, France	EBU Light Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–8–1	Carlos Betancourt	KO	1	11 October 1983	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	50–19–6	Clement Tshinza	KO	2	23 May 1983	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	EBU Light Middleweight Title. Tshinza knocked out at 1:37 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–1	Tony Nelson	RTD	5	15 March 1983	Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–3	Hunter Clay	PTS	15	30 September 1982	Lagos National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria	Commonwealth Light Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32–11–2	Fred Coranson	PTS	10	22 April 1982	Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, United Kingdom	100–96.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–3–3	Chris Christian	TKO	9	24 February 1982	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	BBBofC British/Commonwealth Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:57 of the ninth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–2	Kenny Bristol	PTS	15	25 November 1981	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	Commonwealth Light Middleweight Title. 148–146.5.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–4–1	Prince Rodney	TKO	1	17 June 1981	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 1:16 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35–12–3	Pat Thomas	PTS	15	24 March 1981	Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom	BBBofC Light Middleweight Title. 150–143.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–3–3	Lancelot Innis	PTS	10	22 January 1981	Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, United Kingdom	99.5–96.5.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–5–1	Larry Mayes	TKO	4	30 October 1980	Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, United Kingdom	Referee stopped the bout at 2:56 of the fourth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–10	Joey Mack	PTS	8	9 September 1980	Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, United Kingdom	80–77.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	George Danahar	PTS	8	22 April 1980	Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, United Kingdom	80–77.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–5–1	Glen McEwan	PTS	8	12 February 1980	Fiesta Nitespot, Sheffield, United Kingdom	79–78.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–7	Errol McKenzie	PTS	8	27 November 1979	Sheffield, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–5–3	Billy Ahearne	TKO	3	27 October 1979	Barnsley, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–3–1	Lloyd James	PTS	8	26 September 1979	Sheffield, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–2	Gordon George	PTS	8	16 May 1979	Top Rank Suite, Sheffield, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0–5	Mac Nicholson	PTS	8	27 April 1979	Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–2–1	George Walker	PTS	8	27 March 1979	20th Century Sporting Club, Southend, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–2	Dave Southwell	PTS	8	28 February 1979	Executive Sporting Club, Burslem, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–1	Dave Southwell	PTS	8	12 February 1979	Top Rank Suite, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0–1–1	Jimmy Roberts	TKO	2	22 January 1979	Bradford, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–1	Curtis Marsh	KO	1	4 December 1978	Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0–1	Vivian Waite	PTS	6	28 November 1978	Sheffield, United Kingdom

See also

• List of British middleweight boxing champions

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Herol Graham from BoxRec
• Official website