Date: 10th May 1989
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Title: vacant WBA World Middleweight Title
Promoter: Mickey Duff
Tv: BBC
Mike McCallum
(
35
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 159 lbs
Herol Graham
(
41
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 159 3/4 lbs
Mike McCallum and Herol Graham met on the 10th May 1989 for the vacant WBA World Middleweight Title at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London. The bout was promoted by legendary promoter Mickey Duff and was refereed by Enzo Montero. The fight was televised live on the BBC and was eagerly anticipated by boxing fans all over the world.
Mike McCallum entered the ring with an impressive record of 35-1-0, while Herol Graham had an equally impressive record of 41-1-0. Both fighters weighed in at 159lbs, with Graham just a few ounces heavier. The bout was a closely contested battle, with both fighters showing their skills and determination to win the title.
Throughout the fight, McCallum used steady pressure and clever boxing to try and get the better of Graham. However, Graham was able to use his ability to make his opponent miss while keeping his gloves at waist height, swaying out of the way of oncoming punches. The fight was not without controversy, as Graham was deducted a point in round eight for throwing McCallum into a turnbuckle, while McCallum took an eight-count from the referee after going down early in the fifth round. Although the three judges did not count it as a knockdown, as it was a slip on water.
In the end, McCallum emerged victorious, winning by a split decision with scores of 115-114 from Contimanza Amadeo, 114-117 from Jesus Celis, and 117-115 from Justo Vasquez Marcos. McCallum, known as "The Body Snatcher", was born in Jamaica and proved his worth as a true champion. Graham, who was from the Brendan Ingle gym in Wincobank which went on to produce a number of boxing stars over the years, including Johnny Nelson, Junior Whitter, Kel Brook, and Naseem Hamed.