Cyber Boxing Zone -- Bert Gilroy

Bert Gilroy was a skillful, talented 1st class boxer with knockout potency in both fists; He was a game and willing fighter who was Middleweight and Light-Heavyweight Champion of Scotland from 1938-50; Bert lost 12 of his first 34 bouts but then went unbeaten in 41 bouts, from mid-1937 until early 1943

In fact, from mid-1937 until the end of his career in 1950, Gilroy tasted defeat only 13 times out of his next 85 contests, fighting some of the greatest fighters Britain and Europe had to offer; Seven of these contests met with question or controversy in either the decision or circumstances surrounding the fights

About the time Bert reached his peak in 1939, World War II broke out and boxing interest became secondary; Many historians feel it cost Gilroy an opportunity to win a world title !

Gilroy was a victim of "Boxing Politics" and found himself at odds with British greats, Ernie Roderick, the fearsome Jock McAvoy and world Champion Freddie Mills for title bouts and "title eliminator" bouts that never happened; Bert was effectively shut-out; Such is, at times, the unfortunate and unfair nature of the sweet science we call Boxing

During his career, Bert tangled with such men as Ben Valentine, Arthur "Ginger" Sadd, Glen Moody (Welsh champion and brother of Frank), Jack "Froggy" Hyams, Freddie Mills, Bruce Woodcock, Marcel Cerdan, Don Cockell and Stephane Olek; Gilroy is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame - class of 2006.

1933 Mick Cassidy Airdrie, Scot W 6 H. Donnachie Airdrie, Scot W 6 Dec 2 H. Smith Airdrie, Scot KO 1934 Jim Gans Hamilton, Scot W 6 Chick Harkins Hamilton, Scot KO 2 Bobby Spiers Glasgow, Scot W 4 Battling Mooney Glasgow, Scot KO 1 1935 Pat Slavin Edinburgh, Scot KO 3 Johnny Morgan Edinburgh, Scot L 10 Jimmy Barr Edinburgh, Scot LF 5 Billy Downey Belfast, Northern Ire D 10 Bobby Donaldson Edinburgh, Scot LK 3 Nov 15 Johnny Clements Hamilton, Scot LK 3 Dec 2 Tosh Martin Edinburgh, Scot KO 1 Dec 20 Dave McKay Glasgow, Scot W 6 1936 Jim Brady Belfast, Northern Ire LT 5 Eddie Edwards Bath, Eng W 6 Dave Clarkston Glasgow, Scot W 6 Jim Toner Glasgow, Scot D 6 Tom Sayers Glasgow, Scot W 6 Jacky Morgan Glasgow, Scot W 6 Bobby Lees Glasgow, Scot L 6 Al Valerio Glasgow, Scot D 10 Johnny McKay Glasgow, Scot D 10 Tommy Burns Glasgow, Scot W 10 Tommy Smith Kirkcaldy, Scot L 10 1937 Al Valerio Glasgow, Scot L 10 Pat Gillin Glasgow, Scot KO 5 Tom Doyle Belfast, Northern Ire KO 3 Mick Hassan Glasgow, Scot LK 1 Pat Cowley Glasgow, Scot W 10 Frank Erne Glasgow, Scot L 10 Dan Gillespie Glasgow, Scot LK 3 Tommy Smith Glasgow, Scot L 10 Pat Collins Kirkcaldy, Scot KO 4 Jack Sharkey Belfast, Northern Ire KO 5 Pat Cowley Belfast, Northern Ire W 10 Jacky Morgan Glasgow, Scot W 10 Jim Mount Glasgow, Scot KO 8 Tiny Celphane Kirkcaldy, Scot KO 4 Dec 28 Pat Cowley Belfast, Northern Ire KO 7 1938 Tommy Henderson Glasgow, Scot KO 2 Tommy Burns Coatbridge, Scot KO 5 Mar 11 Jim Mount Glasgow, Scot KO 4 Mar 23 Walter Rankin Perth, Scot KO 5 Mar 25 Mick Hassan Glasgow, Scot W 10 Apr 8 Bushman Dempster Glasgow, Scot D 10 Apr 11 Pat Cowley Belfast, Northern Ire W 10 Jack McKnight Belfast, Northern Ire W 10 May 10 Roy Mills Leith, Scot KO 6 Jun 11 Johnny Clements Coatbridge, Scot KO 10 -Middleweight Championship of Scotland - Elimination Bout Jul 2 "Battling" Charlie Parkin Kettering, Eng KO 4 Sep 27 Tommy Smith Glasgow, Scot W 15 -Middleweight Championship of Scotland Oct 13 Paul Schaeffer Edinburgh, Scot W 10 Dec 25 Ken Robinson Edinburgh, Scot KO 6 1939 Mar 29 Paul Schaeffer Glasgow, Scot W 10 Apr 22 Jacky Morgan Portobello, Eng KO 6 May 10 Ben Valentine Glasgow, Scot W 10 May 22 Jack Cooline Coatbridge, Scot KO 1 Jun 7 Johnny Clements Glasgow, Scot WF 13 -Middleweight Championship of Scotland Jun 28 Arthur "Ginger" Sadd Glasgow, Scot D 10 Nov 20 Roy Mills Sunderland, Eng W 10 Dec 6 Len Harrison Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Eng KO 2 1940 Jan 3 Roy Mills Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Eng TK 6 Mar 6 Arthur "Ginger" Sadd Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Eng W 12 -Middleweight Championship of Great Britain - Elimination Bout Jun 10 Jock McAvoy Manchester, Eng SCH -Middleweight Championship of Great Britain; Gilroy broke his pelvis bone while on military maneuvers; The bout was cancelled -The bone became septic and Bert did not box for a year; Upon his return in 1941, he quickly attained the #1 ranking which he held until 1948 yet never received a title shot 1941 Jun 28 Jock McCusker Glasgow, Scot KO 3 Jul 25 Charlie Knock Glasgow, Scot KO 3 1942 Mar 12 Glen Moody Glasgow, Scot KO 7 Sep 24 Arthur "Ginger" Sadd Glasgow, Scot W 8 Oct 8 Walter Rankin Derby, Eng KO 3 Oct 15 Charlie Knock Liverpool, Eng TK 6 Oct 31 Paddy Roche Dublin, Ire W 10 Dec 2 Jack Hyams Soho, Eng D 10 1943 Jan 11 "Battling" Charlie Parkin Ripley, Eng W 8 Jan 13 Pat O'Connor Soho, Eng KO 3 Jan 21 Jim Berry Sheffield, Eng L 10 Feb 3 Dave McCleave Soho, Eng LF 2 May 29 Pat O'Connor Brentford, Eng W 10 Jun 10 Johnny Kilburn Glasgow, Scot KO 6 Jun 21 Ben Valentine Leicester, Eng W 8 Aug 7 Ray McIntyre Glasgow, Scot W 8 Sep 1 Pat O'Connor Soho, Eng D 10 1944 Jan 13 Noel Wagener Liverpool, Eng TK 4 Feb 16 Freddie Mills London, Eng LT 8 Mar 13 Jim Berry Leicester, Eng W 8 Mar 29 Pat O'Connor London, Eng KO 5 May 10 Dave McCleave Soho, Eng L 8 May 11 Pat O'Connor Birmingham, Eng W 8 Jun 19 Bruce Woodcock Leicester, Eng LK 6 Aug 12 Glen Moody Cardiff, Wales W 10 Sep 21 Lucien Courtois Liverpool, Eng TK 2 Oct 30 Pat O'Connor London, Eng W 8 Nov 2 Ben Valentine Liverpool, Eng W 10 Dec 6 Jim Berry Leith, Scot L 10 Dec 14 Jim Berry Glasgow, Scot W 8 1945 Feb 19 Vince Hawkins London, Eng L 8 Feb 28 Pat O'Connor London, Eng W 8 Mar 15 Jock McCusker Glasgow, Scot KO 15 -Light Heavyweight Championship of Scotland Aug 16 Lucien Courtois Liverpool, Eng TK 2 Nov 29 Ken Shaw Glasgow, Scot L 15 -Heavyweight Championship of Scotland Dec 26 Pat O'Connor Belfast, Northern Ire TK 1 1946 Apr 8 Bruce Woodcock Manchester, Eng LT 2 Jun 12 Ben Valentine Glasgow, Scot W 8 Dec 23 Billy Mason Dundee, Scot KO 5 1947 Jan 29 Al Marson Dundee, Scot KO 2 Feb 11 Marcel Cerdan London, Eng LK 4 May 2 "Battling" Joe Igo Aberdeen, Scot KO 1 Jun 19 Harold Anthony Glasgow, Scot KO 2 Aug 30 Ben Valentine Aberdeen, Scot W 10 1948 Jun 25 Stephane Olek Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA LK 4 May 14 Johnny DeVilliers Durban, KZN, SA W 10 1949 Feb 9 Jock Todd Glasgow, Scot KO 8 -Light Heavyweight Championship of Scotland Mar 9 Ken Shaw Paisley, Scot L 12 -Heavyweight Championship of Scotland Jun 13 Don Cockell Leicester, Eng L 8 Jun 27 Allan Cooke Sunderland, Eng W 8 Oct 14 Charel Baert Edinburgh, Scot KO 4 Oct 31 Allan Cooke Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Eng W 8 Nov 8 Matt Hardy Edinburgh, Scot KO 5 1950 Jan 18 Gerry McDermott Paisley, Scot W 8

Bert Gilroy
(Antonio Rea)

Record And Photo Courtesy Of James Glenn

Bert Gilroy (Antonio Rea)

Record And Photo Courtesy Of James Glenn

Bert Gilroy
(Antonio Rea)