Jimmy McLarnin vs. Phil McGraw

Jimmy McLarnin 136 lbs beat Phil McGraw 134 lbs by TKO at 2:45 in round 1 of 10

• Date: 1928-06-21
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Jack Dorman

"Jimmy McLarnin, the Irish lad who couldn't land a solid punch on Sammy Mandell in a 15 round title bout in May, is restored as the leading lightweight challenger. McLarnin Thursday night came back to knock out Phil McGraw, Detroit, in 2:45 of the 1st round of their scheduled 10 round bout at MSG before 12,000 spectators. McGraw, after starting out by dancing around, tapped Jimmy on the nose with a left. Hardly had the blow landed when McLarnin let his right fly full force. It clipped McGraw on the chin and knocked him halfway through the ropes. With the help of the timekeeper, McGraw pulled himself back upright. Feebly, he tried to fight off Jimmy, but went down three times for short counts. Then referee Jack Dorman stopped the bout." -United Press

• The accompanying article stated that promoter Jim Mullen had Mandell's signature for a rematch with McLarnin for Chicago in August. It also stated that Pop Foster, McLarnin's manager, had given full approval for Jimmy to meet Mandell. However, although they did meet twice more the following year, they were both non-title bouts.