How Sheffield boxer Bomber Graham stunned Vegas in two minutes
Although a world championship ultimately eluded him, many in Sheffield still regard Graham as the boxer who transformed the city's fortunes in the sport
Forty years ago this summer, an unbeaten British stylist few American boxing fans had ever heard of flew into Las Vegas, shared a bill with Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Barry McGuigan – and just about stole the show.
Back in 1986, Sheffield's Herol 'Bomber' Graham made his American debut by demolishing Ernie Rabotte inside the opening round at the Caesars Palace Outdoor Arena.
Just 26 years old and carrying a perfect 35-0 professional record, Graham needed less than two minutes to announce himself on one of boxing's biggest stages.
The explosive stoppage came on a glittering bill featuring some of the sport's biggest names, yet it was the slick southpaw from Sheffield who left many ringside observers talking.
It was the latest statement from a fighter already regarded as one of Britain's finest talents and a man who would go on to win British, Commonwealth and European titles before challenging three times for world honours.
Although a world championship ultimately eluded him, many in Sheffield still regard Graham as the boxer who transformed the city's fortunes in the sport.
Veteran boxing coach Rob Riley, who runs The Old Forge gym in Hillsborough, trained alongside Graham during the famous Brendan Ingle gym era and believes no fighter has matched his natural ability.
"He had such a special technique - he'd make you miss, look stupid. It was hit and not get hit.
"He started out in the 1970s and nobody had ever seen anything like him. It was the template for others who came later.
"Without him and that there would have been no Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson or Ryan Rhodes.
"If he was here today as a middleweight - and at his peak - he could be a world champion.
"He made a lot of sacrifices during his career, but was plagued by injuries nobody even knew about. A lot of fighters didn't want to get in the ring with him...Marvin Hagler, Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn...he was just too slick."
Graham, who turns 67 next month, began his professional career at Sheffield's Top Rank Suite in November 1978.
He won the British light-middleweight title in 1981, added the Commonwealth crown later that year and claimed the European championship in 1983.
He moved up to middleweight and produced one of the finest performances of his career by stopping Detroit's Lindell Holmes at Bramall Lane in 1984 before capturing the European middleweight title two years later.
Despite earning a reputation as one of Britain's finest defensive stylists, Graham never managed to crown his career with a world title, losing championship fights to Mike McCallum, Julian Jackson and, in his final bout in 1998, Charles Brewer in the United States.