Sheffield's boxing elite pay tribute to Bomber Graham

The biggest gathering of Sheffield's best-ever boxers will unite under one roof next month.
Sheffield-tranied boxer Herol Graham in hospital with friend and fellow boxer Colin McMillan.Sheffield-tranied boxer Herol Graham in hospital with friend and fellow boxer Colin McMillan.
Sheffield-tranied boxer Herol Graham in hospital with friend and fellow boxer Colin McMillan.

Around 35 champions past and present will raise money for Herol ‘Bomber’ Graham who is recuperating from a burst appendix.

The ‘card’ for the May 7 event at Magna includes Kell Brook, Clinton Woods, Junior Witter, Johnny Nelson, Paul ‘Silky’ Jones, Ryan Rhodes, Esham Pickering, Glyn Rhodes, Adam Etches, Jon Keeton, Ross Burkinshaw and Nav Mansouri.

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Organiser Michael Lawless said Graham, who has previously suffered with depression, was using the evening as a “motivation” to get better.

“Herol was taken aback by the number of people who have sent good-will messages” he said. “The evening has given him something positive to focus on and aid his recovery. It was touch-and-go for him for a while, but he has pulled through.”

Graham, 56, who now lives in London, was one of the world’s best boxers in 1980s-1990s - possibly the best British boxer never to have won a world title. Other guests include two boxers who also had a brush with death - Jerome Wilson who was in a coma and Lee Noble, who had leukaemia.

Lawless, originally from Parson Cross but now living in Barnsley, said: “I am just a boxing fan who has been lucky to make friends like Herol, in the sport I love.

For further info or tickets ring: 07780 726454.

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*Errol Spence is one of the small band of American boxers who seems happy to take on Sheffield’s Kell Brook, in his own back yard.

The 26 year old takes on former WBO world champion Chris Algieri in New York on Saturday night.

He predicts a win which will give him a shot at IBF welterweight champion, Brook.

“I think I will be the new IBF No 1 challenger once I win this and hopefully I will get a crack at Kell Brook,” he told Sky Sports.

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“That’s a fight I am looking forward to. I am looking at everyone who holds a world title but I would look forward to a Kell Brook fight if I get that mandatory position.

“I’d go anywhere to fight, it doesn’t matter,” Spence added. “I’ve seen Kell fight and he can fight. He’s good and it’d be a good fight. He’s got a good one-two.

“I think 147lbs is the best division in boxing. From top to bottom they’ve got good fighters and we’re all young, so we are going to be around for a while.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn says Brook was still not a significant name in America, despite winning the world title there.

He suggested the Sheffielder would box in Britain, at the end of July, and again referred to possible opponents, Danny Garcia, Timothy Bradley and Adrien Broner.