Billy Graham (New Zealand boxer)

William Neil Graham MNZM (born 1947/1948)[1] is a New Zealand boxing trainer and former amateur boser. He won four New Zealand titles at light welterweight, plus an Australasian title and the Jamieson Belt.

Graham during his amateur boxing days

Billy Graham MNZM
Graham in 2020
Statistics
Weight(s)	Light-welterweight
Born	1947/1948 (age 72–73) Naenae, New Zealand

Born in Naenae, and trained by the legendary Dick Dunn, Graham's amateur career was outstanding. He did not turn pro, but in the late 1960s Bob Jones wrote the following about young Graham:

Wellington boxing fans should mark down young Billy Graham in the back of their minds as a future professional champion who will fill their Town Hall, for the Hutt Valley boxer is showing all the signs of following in the footsteps of two post-war greats in Barry Brown and Manuel Santos. At 18, Billy Graham who in the nick of time for the W.B.A, who currently sadly lacking a local hero, is an amateur prospect with all the necessary qualifications to make the grade in the professional ring after perhaps another year in the amateurs.

When Graham was 28, his coach told him it was time to stop boxing. Graham left boxing after 18 years in the ring without ever having taken a blow to the head. He now runs the Naenae Boxing Academies in Naenae and Cannons creek, These academies help kids of the street and save their childhoods which has gained recognition from several newspapers.[1]