By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

When people ask me for my opinion on underrated fighters, and there are many, one of the first names that pops up in my mind is Billy Graham.

During an impressive fourteen year career, in which he won over 100 fights, Graham never became a world champion, but he certainly made an impression with many who saw him fight.

Born on September 9, 1922 on the East Side of New York, Graham was encouraged by his father at a young age to start boxing. Just a kid at the age of eleven, he defeated another youngster, Walker Smith, who would later become known as Sugar Ray Robinson.

Graham turned professional in 1941, and was undefeated in his first five years. In that span of time, he had fifty-eight bouts with a record of  52-0-6.

Although his competition was against easier fighters, his big-name opponent came in 1950 in two bouts with “The Cuban Hawk” Kid Gavilan, with each winning once by 10 round decision.

The next year, on November 17, 1951, the rubber match with Gavilan would take place in New York for the world welterweight championship. Graham lost that bout in a fifteen round decision.

Their fourth fight, and once again for the world welterweight championship, was held in Havana, Cuba. Graham would lose a highly disputed fifteen round decision; the judges were influenced, it was said, by mob interference.

Graham also fought Carmen Basilio three times, with a win, loss, and draw in their trilogy.

Graham retired in 1955 with a ring record of 102 wins, 15 losses, and 9 draws, with 27 by knockout. He was never knocked out in his professional career (126 bouts).

Graham was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.  On my list of boxers that have never been knocked out, I rank Graham at #23.

Billy Graham passed away peacefully from cancer at his home in West Islip, Long Island, New York, on January 22, 1992 at the age of 69.