Graphene-based　materials　are　promising　nonprecious　metal　catalysts　(NPMCs)　for　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR).　However,　this　kind　of　carbon　materials　are　usually　suffering　from　layer　stacking　and　intrinsically　lack　of　highly-efficient　active　sites　for　ORR.　At　present,　it　is　still　a　huge　challenge　to　develop　porous　multi-doped　graphene.　Herein,　the　B,　N　and　Co　tri-doped　graphene　with　hierarchical　pores　is　successfully　synthesized　via　a　first　hydrothermal　reaction　of　graphene　oxide　(GO)　with　Co(II)　nitrate,　2-methylimidazole　(2MI)　and　boric　acid,　subsequent　pyrolysis　and　final　acid　leaching.　The　morphology,　structure　and　components　of　a　series　of　samples　are　systematically　investigated.　The　as-obtained　products　possess　abundant　macro/mesopores　and　ORR　active　sites　including　B-bonded　C　(C–B),　pyridinic　N,　graphitic　N,　Co–N–C　and　defects　owing　to　the　formation　and　decomposition　of　the　Co　layered　double　hydroxides　(Co-LDHs).　After　optimizing　hydrothermal　temperature,　pyrolytic　temperature　and　the　amount　of　GO,　the　sample　exhibits　an　excellent　ORR　performance　in　0.1　M　KOH　solution.　The　activity,　durability　and　methanol　tolerance　are　comparable　or　even　superior　to　those　of　the　commercial　Pt/C　catalyst　(20　wt%).　This　work　provides　a　new　strategy　to　construct　porous　multi-doped　graphene　as　nonprecious　ORR　catalyst.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd