My grandfather fought Marcel Cerdan.
Posted: 01 Jan 2003, 04:50
My grandfather fought Marcel Cerdan, my grandfather was Reigning Scottish "middle" & "light-heavyweight" Champion, Bert Gilroy 1938-45, 1945-50.
Cerdan beat Gilroy quite decisively in 4rds. ko, Gilroy was put down 6 times in the fight 3 times in the first, 1 in the 2nd. and 2 times in the 4th and last rd.
The story does'nt begin and end there however, Bert Gilroy's story is probably the Greatest Story in British Boxing History for most Feared, Ducked,Cheated and Exploited fighter.
Bert Gilroy, Reigning Scots Champion "middle&cruiserweight" 1938-50, always in top 10 uk, and for (10 yrs.) 1939-48, no.1 contender both weights, also ranked and classed on Worlds stage same yrs. Bert Gilroy truly one of the Greatest boxers of this, the greatest period in boxing history. Victim, of injury, of English national pride, (BBB of C) Wartime rulings, Denied Title shot, Ducked by many fighters and their handlers. We have all documentation and still gathering more, more importantly Gilroy's record and story can be verified by Tommy (Tom) Gilmour Jr. Scotland's leading manager & promoter, as his father was Gilroy's manager Tommy Gilmour Sr.
He was the most Feared and ducked
fighter in the UK , a middleweight cum light-heavy , He stood 5' 8,3/4 "
tall and weighed on average 12 stone ( 168 lbs. ) he fought more
light-heavies & heavyweights than any other British middleweight and he
beat almost all of them , he was a " giant killer ".
Gilroy took part in 238 recorded fights loosing just 29 , 125 of these
contests are sanctioned professional contest his record therefore reads , 92
wins , 25 loses , 8 draws , of these 25 loses , 12 took place in his novice
yrs.the first 3 yrs. and of , the remaining 13 loses he was blatantly cheated
out of 4 of these decisions , and a further 3 more remain " questionable "
(circumstances , making weight , illness) ,
of the draws , 3 of them , he was cheated out of the victory !
In-between he went on a 6yr. 41 fight winning streak !
Gilroy was THE no.1 contender in the UK for 10 yrs. British Ratings and/or World Placement
( middle & light-heavyweight )
and they , the British Boxing Board of Control never gave him a " title
fight " , he was ducked by 3 British Champions , Roderick , McAvoy , and
Mills ( who became World Champion ! ) . These men all should have been
fighting Gilroy for " titles " but , No Go ! . The real cowards were the
BBBof Control , who wouldn't risk loosing a world title chance for " England
" to a Scots-Italian and among the more prestigious heavier weights .
Gilroy , Reigned Supreme for 12yrs. in Scotland , there was no-one his equal !
In 1947 no longer a "middleweight" since 1945, they call on Gilroy to fight Cerdan, they don't call on Vince Hawkins or Ernie Roderick present and past Champions, the Championship they "Froze" Gilroy out of, yet no longer a middle he is called to make weight and fight Cerdan.
Gilroy never made the agreed weight but "dye'd" trying, 48 hrs. before the fight he was 6 1/2 lbs still over, he did not eat or drink for those 2 day's before the fight, so real was this fact that 36 yrs. later "boxing news" in a reflective story said of Gilroy, how he made the weight
"we shall never know."
When asked hundreds of times later throughout his life "do you think you could have beat him (on an equal playing field) Gilroy always stated humblely and honestly "I certainly would have given him a better showing".
Gilroy could have beat Cerdan and beat him well, Gilroy was favorite to beat the great Jock McAvoy. He was well ahead on pts. when a ?able cut eye denied him the verdict against Freddie Mills (who became World light-heavyweight Champion). He fought big Bruce Woodcock & Ken Shaw twice each, both of these first meetings ended in ?. He beat Shaw that first time for the Scottish "heavyweight" Title.
I really don't think Cerdan would have had such success against these "bigger" men and Gilroy fought and beat dozens of them.
Comments welcomed!
Cerdan beat Gilroy quite decisively in 4rds. ko, Gilroy was put down 6 times in the fight 3 times in the first, 1 in the 2nd. and 2 times in the 4th and last rd.
The story does'nt begin and end there however, Bert Gilroy's story is probably the Greatest Story in British Boxing History for most Feared, Ducked,Cheated and Exploited fighter.
Bert Gilroy, Reigning Scots Champion "middle&cruiserweight" 1938-50, always in top 10 uk, and for (10 yrs.) 1939-48, no.1 contender both weights, also ranked and classed on Worlds stage same yrs. Bert Gilroy truly one of the Greatest boxers of this, the greatest period in boxing history. Victim, of injury, of English national pride, (BBB of C) Wartime rulings, Denied Title shot, Ducked by many fighters and their handlers. We have all documentation and still gathering more, more importantly Gilroy's record and story can be verified by Tommy (Tom) Gilmour Jr. Scotland's leading manager & promoter, as his father was Gilroy's manager Tommy Gilmour Sr.
He was the most Feared and ducked
fighter in the UK , a middleweight cum light-heavy , He stood 5' 8,3/4 "
tall and weighed on average 12 stone ( 168 lbs. ) he fought more
light-heavies & heavyweights than any other British middleweight and he
beat almost all of them , he was a " giant killer ".
Gilroy took part in 238 recorded fights loosing just 29 , 125 of these
contests are sanctioned professional contest his record therefore reads , 92
wins , 25 loses , 8 draws , of these 25 loses , 12 took place in his novice
yrs.the first 3 yrs. and of , the remaining 13 loses he was blatantly cheated
out of 4 of these decisions , and a further 3 more remain " questionable "
(circumstances , making weight , illness) ,
of the draws , 3 of them , he was cheated out of the victory !
In-between he went on a 6yr. 41 fight winning streak !
Gilroy was THE no.1 contender in the UK for 10 yrs. British Ratings and/or World Placement
( middle & light-heavyweight )
and they , the British Boxing Board of Control never gave him a " title
fight " , he was ducked by 3 British Champions , Roderick , McAvoy , and
Mills ( who became World Champion ! ) . These men all should have been
fighting Gilroy for " titles " but , No Go ! . The real cowards were the
BBBof Control , who wouldn't risk loosing a world title chance for " England
" to a Scots-Italian and among the more prestigious heavier weights .
Gilroy , Reigned Supreme for 12yrs. in Scotland , there was no-one his equal !
In 1947 no longer a "middleweight" since 1945, they call on Gilroy to fight Cerdan, they don't call on Vince Hawkins or Ernie Roderick present and past Champions, the Championship they "Froze" Gilroy out of, yet no longer a middle he is called to make weight and fight Cerdan.
Gilroy never made the agreed weight but "dye'd" trying, 48 hrs. before the fight he was 6 1/2 lbs still over, he did not eat or drink for those 2 day's before the fight, so real was this fact that 36 yrs. later "boxing news" in a reflective story said of Gilroy, how he made the weight
"we shall never know."
When asked hundreds of times later throughout his life "do you think you could have beat him (on an equal playing field) Gilroy always stated humblely and honestly "I certainly would have given him a better showing".
Gilroy could have beat Cerdan and beat him well, Gilroy was favorite to beat the great Jock McAvoy. He was well ahead on pts. when a ?able cut eye denied him the verdict against Freddie Mills (who became World light-heavyweight Champion). He fought big Bruce Woodcock & Ken Shaw twice each, both of these first meetings ended in ?. He beat Shaw that first time for the Scottish "heavyweight" Title.
I really don't think Cerdan would have had such success against these "bigger" men and Gilroy fought and beat dozens of them.
Comments welcomed!
