Billy Graham

Early life and career Graham was born in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan on September 9, 1922. Billy's father operated a candy store on Second Avenue between East 35th and 36th streets, which later became a bar after the end of Prohibition and moved to the corner of Second Avenue and East 36th Street. (Billy's father was a fan of Jimmy McLarnin; he gave Billy and his brother Robbie boxing gloves which they used to face off against each other in a room in the back of the candy store.)

At the age of ten, Billy began learning how to box at the Catholic Boys' Club, which was a converted tenement on East 37th Street between First and Second avenues and included a gym on the top floor. He later boxed for the Madison Square Boys' Club. At the time, Graham was thirteen years old and both kids weighted about . Years later, after Robinson had become a boxing legend, Graham saw him and reminded him of their fight. Robinson smiled and responded, "Lots of people beat Sugar Ray Robinson. But you're the only man who ever beat Walker Smith." Graham went on to compile a record of 80–2 as an amateur boxer.

Graham met his future wife through her father, who was a regular customer at his father's bar on Second Avenue. Graham and Lorraine Hansen were engaged in February 1948 and the couple got married later that same year. They had four children.

Boxing career He was undefeated in his first 58 fights, going 52–0–6, until he fought Tony Pellone, where he lost by a split decision. He fought the legendary Kid Gavilán (commonly spelled Kid Gavilan) four times. In the first fight, held at Madison Square Garden, he beat Gavilan by a split decision. In the second fight, he lost at Madison Square Garden by a medical decision. The third fight was for the National Boxing Association World welterweight title and was again held at Madison Square Garden; this time, Gavilan won by a split decision. The final fight was for the World Welterweight Title in Havana, Cuba at Stadium Ball Park; Gavilan was again the victor, winning in a unanimous decision.

Graham's controversial loss to Gavilan in 1951 earned him the nickname "The Uncrowned Welterweight Champion of the World". The decision was reviewed by the New York State Athletic Commission in 1985, but was not overturned.

Billy Graham also fought Carmen Basilio three times in his career. The first fight was held at Chicago Stadium; Graham won by a unanimous decision. Basilio won the second fight, held for the New York State Welterweight Title at Memorial Stadium in Syracuse, by a unanimous decision. The third and final fight was deemed a draw; Basilio kept his New York State Welterweight Title. He spent 35 years working as a representative for liquor companies, including 25 years for Seagram's. Graham also worked as a boxing judge and referee. Graham had also appeared on CBS' Name That Tune game show on April 23, 1957, when he won a jackpot of $25,000 along with a 14-year-old contestant. On May 27, 1957, Graham met the evangelist Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden and presented him with a recording of a semi-religious song he had helped write called The Man.

W. C. Heinz's 1958 novel The Professional was written about a sportswriter covering a boxer training for a fight, and the character of middleweight Eddie Brown was based on Billy Graham.

Graham died of cancer at his home in West Islip on January 22, 1992.

Professional boxing record