Victory in the long fight to recognise city boxing hero

A BOXER who can lay claim to being Scotland's first world champion has finally been recognised in his home city.

A plaque celebrating the achievements of flyweight champion Johnny Hill has been unveiled outside the city tenement where he was born just over a century ago.

The unveiling ceremony, which was attended by Hill's nephew, David Hill, marked the end of a long campaign by officials of Hill's former club Leith Victoria Amateur Boxing Club. The plaque sits on the wall outside No 5 Brunswick Road where the boxer was born on December 14, 1905.

Hill was inducted last week into the "All Time Scottish Ring Great" category by the Scottish Hall Of Boxing Fame at a ceremony in Glasgow.

He was a brilliant amateur who not only held Scottish fly and bantamweight titles but, in 1926, won the British ABA flyweight crown at London's Albert Hall. He tragically died at the age of 23. Today, European and Commonwealth super featherweight champion Alex Arthur, who also boxed for Leith Victoria, said he was delighted at the long fought for recognition for his predecessor.

He said: "As a keen ring historian I'm thrilled that Johnny Hill is now going to have this plaque to mark his birthplace."

A brilliant technical boxer whose slim, waif-like appearance masked terrific punching power, Hill set a Scottish pro-record never equalled by winning world, British, empire and European flyweight crowns within just 23 months of joining the professional ranks in 1926.

He was a huge favourite in London where he fought most of his battles culminating in his world flyweight triumph over 15 rounds at Clapton Greyhound Stadium before 30,000 ringside fans in August 1928.

On that occasion, Hill defeated American "Newsboy" Brown and seemed to have the sporting world at his feet. Yet, in 1929, while training to defend his claim to be the world's greatest fighter, against American Frankie Genaro, Hill contracted a chill. Shortly after a blood clot in his lung killed the boxer at the age of 23. Today he can still lay claim to be the only Scot to have died holding a world title.

Leith Victoria club secretary Douglas Fraser thanked Lord Provost Lesley Hinds for supporting the club's campaign.

He said: "We feel it is hugely important that we honour Johnny Hill who brought such glory to our club in the 1920s when it was still in its infancy.

"The plaque has been provided by one of our main club sponsors, local builder Darren Meaney."

David Hill - nephew of the late Johnny Hill - said: "My father Alf, Johnny Hill's youngest brother, is nearly 90 years old and unable to attend. I attended last week's Scottish Boxing Hall of Fame induction and that was great, but this is like a homecoming - marking my Uncle Johnny's Edinburgh birthplace."

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