Bert Gilroy , was he jobbed and if so , when and by whom ?

Bert Gilroy never actually lost a fight when things were on the level ....... weight, preparation, conspiracy, etc

 

It's true Gilroy often gave weight away, its also true Cerdan who had fought just 9 days before , had no trouble conceding 12lbs to him and koed him in 4 rounds. Mills also stopped him. Gilroy was a good, but not great fighter.Reg Gutteridge ,who saw him fight Cerdan ,described him as "workmanlike". Partisanship has coloured the view of Mr Thistle, imo.

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Bert Gilroy was jobbed out of a shot at the British titles.
I'm not sure why.

 

Do you not read the accounts of Gilroy DRYING OUT to make weight for this fight, he dried out for over a week and in the last 48 hrs had NO INTAKE whatsoever - Ron Olver, Boxing News reported "How he made the weight we shall never know!"

he still never made the weight, but that only counts for other fighters, Oh I see!

Reg Gutterage was a 24 year old bright eyed lad at the time, I spoke to him about Gilroy, he told me about this fight... I said to him of all the fights you could have seen this is the only time you seen him fight. Reg didn't know what I meant, he didn't know about Gilroy trying to cut weight in less than 2 weeks for this fight, he didn't know either that Bert never actually made the weight. Gilroy was beat going in.

Do you really think this didn't effect Bert, sorry only effects other fights, ah yes!
You don't think the Gilroy that technically beat Mills, was favourite to beat McAvoy, fought Woodcock twice and a handfull of other heavyweights couldn't have fought a better fight with Cerdan on EVEN terms?

read the reports first and explain how 10 years No.1 doesn't get his Title fight, yet EVERY OTHER fighter associated with him did!!!

 

What weight did he have to make against Cerdan ?

 

12 st 4. (172lbs), he was over 180 when fight was agreed.

 

I'm not disputing Gilroy may have been given the run around ,was he unique in this respect?
How about Lloyd Marshall koing Mills, and Mills getting the ttile shot against an aging Lesnevich?
Gains beating Carnera , and Carnera getting the shot?
I just am not convinced that Gilroy was as good as you believe him to be. McAvoy had terrible problems with his thumbs, he had a spasm in his back when he fought Mills, **** happens. I am however, happy to be proved wrong , educate me, but you will have to do more than make assertions, put up some primary sources ,that reinforce your claims and I will be happy to be converted.

 

I don't know how to post pictures or images, but here's a start http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/cbzforum/showthread.php?5779-Bert-Gilroy post 21, 24 & 25 good reports.

if you google Bert Gilroy and go to images you'll get the Gilroy v Mills report, the Charlie Rose U.S report... there is a Woodcock page somewhere that reports their fights, namely the first where Gilroy started out alright but Woodcock was just too Big, Reach and Strong, I'll try and get a link for that.

I could put his WHOLE Scrapbook (on Disc), up somewhere, 72 pages, beautiful. Where & How do you do that, hundreds of reports including ALL the questionable decisions and Ratings & OFFICIAL Title status and all of it.

A fantastic expose of his great & disheartening career!

 

I've done a wee bit of research on Bert Gilroy, and the impression I always got was he was unlucky more than avoided. I mean the war obviously took up his prime years and when he did have a title shot lined up he injured himself.

I do think he should have been given his shot at the British title, and it is a great shame he never.

Its been a while since I have really swotted up on him, so thats just my impressions on it.

 

young Greg disect this.

Ernie Roderick...

1945-05-29 Vince Hawkins Kensington, UK W PTS 15
vacant BBBofC British Middleweight Title

1945-04-19 Johnny Clements Walworth, UK W PTS 8
1945-03-19 Jim Wellard Nottingham, UK W KO 5
1945-03-15 Tommy Davies Kensington, UK W PTS 10
1945-02-08 George Odwell Marylebone, UK W PTS 8
1944-11-16 Johnny Clements Glasgow, UK W PTS 8
1944-10-25 Billy Mason Soho, UK W KO 5
1944-04-20 Tommy Davies Soho, UK W PTS 10
1943-10-23 Lefty Satan Flynn Kensington, UK L PTS 10
1943-07-10 Tommy Davies Nottingham, UK W PTS 10
1943-04-28 Pat O'Connor Soho, UK L PTS 10
1943-04-05 Paddy Roche Bristol, UK W TKO 5
1943-04-02 Stafford Barton Manchester, UK W TKO 4
1943-02-15 Jackie Potts Nottingham, UK W PTS 10
1942-08-23 Jim Herlihy Liverpool, UK W TKO 4

1942-05-25 Arthur (Ginger) Sadd Norwich, UK W PTS 12 final eliminator British MW title (WHY).


Yes Bert got injured in 1940, but what about the 8 years that followed with Bert No.1 in both MW & L-HW, No more eliminators for Bert & No Title fights!

Roderick had 16 fights between his Final Eliminator 1942, & the Middleweight Title - 5 MWs in 9 fights, the rest Welterweights

Bert in the same period (who had already beat Sadd in a Final eliminator for the title, and was promised the Title fight upon his return after his injury. ???).

Bert had 30 fights in this same 3 year period, two against Heavyweights, one against Mills (British & Empires World L-HW champion) and 27 against the othe Middleweights & Light-Heavyweights.

Bert had double the fights, was No.1 all through it and was 'technically' still official challenger, which they took (STOLE), from him in 1942 while still on a 6 year winning streak, gave the fight to Roderick who sat in hiatis for 3 years WHY???.

Bert was fighting the real Middles & L-HWs and even after the 1942 crime was given Sadd again and of course beat him.

Explain the Roderick fiasco and thats without even tackling why Gilroy & McAvoy weren't reunited first and of course the Gilroy vs. Mills years.

AVOIDED - SHUT OUT, not frozen out - un****en believable, and for 8 years!!!

 

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Granby-Halls-bout-ended-riot/story-14287698-detail/story.html

Granby Halls bout ended in riot

Saturday, December 31, 2011

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Leicester Mercury Follow

During a recent conversation with some Scottish boxing enthusiasts the name of Bert GiIroy came up, regular contributor to this page Harold Varnam, of Countesthorpe, tells me.

"Apparently he is still regarded as one of Scotland's best ever boxers," says Mr Varnam, "but for me it recalled a notorious incident at Leicester's erstwhile premier boxing arena, the late-lamented Granby Halls.

"I believe the year was 1944 and despite war time restrictions Granby Halls was always full to overflowing for the boxing programmes. "On this particular evening Leicester's legendary promoter Joe Jacobs was appealing to the crowd to close ranks so that more fans could be packed into an already 'sardine-packed' arena.

"One of the main events featured the said Bert Gilroy and Doncaster's highly-regarded prospect Bruce Woodcock. At the time Woodcock was being hailed as the saviour of British boxing and a possible future challenger for the World Heavyweight Championship.

"When the two men entered the ring it brought forth howls of derision and laughter and some very ribald comments from the usual comedians in the crowd because Woodcock was a full head taller than the Scot and probably at least a couple of stone heavier.

"Despite Gilroy's sturdy physique it looked like a bad mismatch. Naturally the crowds sympathies were with the smaller man. But once the fight started Gilroy proceeded to punch the much bigger Woodcock all over the ring.

"He definitely won the opening rounds by a large margin, much to the delight of the partisan audience until a wild swing from Woodcock caught him square on the chin and he went down.

"He didn't seem particularly hurt but before he could get up the referee stopped the fight and declared Woodcock the winner. It was obviously a blatant attempt to preserve the Doncaster man's unbeaten record.

"Then all hell broke loose. Chairs, paper cups, programmes and cushions were all hurled into the ring and several fist fights broke out at ringside between the rival supporters. "Within minutes the fighting spread to all parts of the arena. Women were screaming and many fans were scrabbling to try to avoid the brawling mob.

"Police presence at sporting events in those days was very sparse and, if I remember correctly, there were only about half a dozen policeman in the arena. "These were quickly overwhelmed as people fought to get outside.

"I was only a nine-year-old schoolboy at the time but under the protection of my Uncle George's strong arms I was virtually carried to safety into Aylestone Road.

"But outside the skirmishes continued and as we left the area the first of The Black Marias were arriving with police reinforcements. During the war news reports were subjected to censorship and negative items were usually suppressed.

"So I would be interested to know how this dramatic event was reported at the time."



I mentioned I didn't know how to posts pics and things, but I just found this excellent picture of Cerdan dumbing Bert can someone post pls and Gilroy's Promo pic too. Thanks.

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/File:BertGilroyBC.jpg

http://newsprints.co.uk/view/0/19372619/elib_asscmmglpict000004719129_jpg

 

McVey, I tried to provide some good links - thoughts...

thanks Frankfrank.

 

McVey, you asked me to provide "primary sources," I'm tying.

here's another... http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...XZDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MpIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3393,1432223

Gilroy got that fight with Sadd, won it, for the "Final Eliminator" for McAvoy's crown, you know the rest!

I would put his whole Scrapbook up IF I knew how.

Jobbed! that's a polite way of saying it!