Bob Baker vs. Billy Gilliam (5th meeting)

Bob Baker 217 lbs beat Billy Gilliam 207 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1953-01-12
• Location: Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, USA
• Referee: Teddy Martin 4-6
• Judge: Jack O'Sullivan 5-3
• Judge: Americo Schiavone 6-5

"Bob Baker of Pittsburgh won his 4th victory over Billy Gilliam of Orange, NJ, Monday night in their 5th fight on a split 10 round decision before 1,000 fans in Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway Arena. Baker had the better of the exchanges in the final round, apparently to get the edge. Gilliam made it an extremely close fight. Baker suffered a badly swollen left eye and left cheek as a result of accurate right hand smashes landed on him in nearly every round by his rugged opponent. Neither fighter hit the deck during the heavy slugging, however, Baker was knocked back onto his heels in the furious 2nd round and Gilliam was knocked half-groggy by a left hook to the chin in the 5th. In that session, Gilliam suffered a bloody nose." -United Press

• Judge Americo Schiavone actually had scored the bout 5-5 even in rounds. However, due to NY's supplemental scoring system, which allowed additional points in the case of an even score, Schiavone awarded it to Baker 6-5 on points.
• Baker was a substitute for Coley Wallace who suffered a fractured nose in training the previous week.
• After the match, Teddy Brenner, the Eastern Parkway Arena matchmaker, promised both fighters prominent opponents due to their showing. He promised Baker a match with Clarence Henry sometime in February and promised Gilliam a match with Coley Wallace on February 23rd after their first match fell through. Both fights did take place at the Arena, but later in the year.