Bert Kirby

Bert Kirby (2 December 1908 – 1975) was an English flyweight boxer, who became British flyweight champion in 1930.

Bert Kirby
Statistics
Weight(s)Flyweight
Nationality British
Born2 December 1908
Died1975
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights202
Wins122
Wins by KO40
Losses62
Draws17
No contests0

Career

Born in Birmingham, Kirby made his professional debut in March 1924 with a win over Billy Burns. Unbeaten in his first twelve fights, his first loss came in January 1927 at the hands of Dick Corbett. In a run of sixteen straight wins that followed in the first half of 1927, he beat Corbett three times.

In the late 1920s he moved to trainer Fred Dyer and boxed out of Dyer's gym in the Strand, London.[1]

In March 1928 he won a British title eliminator against Minty Rose, but would have to wait 18 months before getting his title shot.[2]

In October 1928 he lost a points decision to former European title challenger Nicolas Petit-Biquet at the Royal Albert Hall, also losing a rematch two months later. He suffered a further defeat at the hands of then 15-year old Nipper Pat Daly before the year was out.

In June 1929 he beat Harry Hill on points to take the Midlands flyweight title, and in August beat Billy James in a British title eliminator,[3] which became a final eliminator with the death of British champion Johnny Hill, and in October 1929 he faced Jackie Brown for the vacant title. Brown knocked him out in the third round to take the title.[4][5]

In March 1930, Kirby challenged again for the British title at the National Sporting Club, this time knocking Brown out in the third to become British flyweight champion.[4][6] He had two further fights later the same month, a win over Young Siki, and a loss by knockout to Frenchman Rene Chalange.[7][8]

In November 1930, Kirby was knocked down by a lorry after stopping his car on the way home from a fight in Coventry, suffering back and leg injuries, and causing several fights to be cancelled, including a defence of his British title against Brown.[9] Kirby was stripped of his British title on 6 January 1931 by the British Boxing Board of Control after his licence expired,[10] but had a chance to regain it the following month in his fight against Brown, which the board recognised as a contest for the vacant title;[11] Kirby lost on points to Brown.[4][12]

Kirby made a successful challenge for the Southern Area flyweight title in April 1933, beating Boy Edge on points,[13] but lost it in March 1934 to Tommy Pardoe, who had also beaten him three months earlier in a non-title fight.[14] His final fight was a win over Jamaican featherweight champion Young Chocolate in August 1938.

After retiring, Kirby claimed that he had turned down two world title fights during his career, due to the fights being 'fixed', with the boxers contracted for three fights, with an agreement that they each win one of the first two to build up interest and money for the third, which would be a straight fight.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Another Win for Bert Kirby". Sports Argus. 21 April 1928. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Points Verdict for Bert Kirby". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 6 March 1928. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Win for Bert Kirby". Dundee Courier. 26 August 1929. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. Harding, John (2016) Lonsdale's Belt: Boxing's Most Coveted Prize (Kindle edition), Pitch Publishing, ASIN B01LDFM1XY
  5. "Bert Kirby Beaten in Title Bout". Derby Daily Telegraph. 14 October 1929. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Quick End to Title Fight: Bert Kirby's Revenge". Leeds Mercury. 4 March 1930. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Win for Bert Kirby". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 7 February 1930. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Bert Kirby Knocked Out: Champion Beaten by Belgian". The Scotsman. 19 March 1930. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Bert Kirby in Hospital". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 4 November 1930. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Boxing Titles Vacant: Four Crowns With No Heads!". Hull Daily Mail. 7 January 1931. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Bert Kirby and Fly-Weight Title". Dundee Courier. 13 January 1931. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "New Fly-Weight Champion: British Title Lost by Bert Kirby". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 3 February 1931. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Bert Kirby Wins the Southern Area Fly Weight Title". Sheffield Independent. 4 April 1933. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "Bert Kirby Well Outpointed by Tom Pardoe, the ex-Amateur". Sheffield Independent. 12 December 1933. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. Kirby, Bert (17 June 1961). "Fights Fixed...So I Refuse Chance to be World Champion". Sports Argus. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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