Boxing: Graham's low-key victory

Herol Graham, the former world title contender, came safely through his second comeback fight last night when he outpointed Bradford's Craig Joseph over eight rounds at the Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre - his first appearance in London for nearly eight years.

Graham won the verdict of the referee, Larry O'Connell, by a maximum 80 points to 76, showing the odd flash of the old reflexes which made him a world-class performer in the 1980s without proving whether he still has enough left at the age of 37 to compete successfully in the super- middleweight division.

Graham, who outpointed America's Terry Ford on his return last November, said: "I rate this showing higher than my first fight back. I've got to get better, I can't get any worse. It was fair, it was satisfactory and at least I came forward and made the fight."

Joseph simply showed Graham too much respect, but he was a calibre of opponent whom the former British and European champion would have brushed aside in his heyday.

Joseph managed one thumping right through Graham's guard in the third round and in the fourth he was warned by the referee for sending Joseph somersaulting flat on his back.