| Main Performers | 'Tiger' Al Phillips (Aldgate),
Cliff Anderson (British Guyana),
Randolph Turpin,
Bert Hyland,
Robert Villemain,
Gwyn Williams,
Eddie Thomas,
Billy Walker,
Jackie Turpin,
Sammy Erwin,
George Dawson,
Bill Brennan - boxers |
| Set List | 'Tiger' Al Phillips v Cliff Anderson - Phillips winner on points - feather
Randolph Turpin v Bert Hyland - Turpin winner - middle
Robert Villemain v Gwyn Williams - Villemain winner - middle
Eddie Thomas c Billy Walker - Thomas winner - welter
Jackie Turpin v Sammy Erwin - Turpin winner - feather
George Dawson v Bill Brennan - Dawson winner - heavy |
| Performance Notes | This was a controversial match because of Phillips's win against Cliff Anderson.
The match was broadcast on BBC Radio Light Programme from 20:45-22:00.
"The feather-weight championship of the British Empire was at stake at the Royal Albert Hall last night when Al Phillips of Aldgate, and Cliff Anderson from British Guiana, contested a title recently given up by Nel Taleton on his retirement. Phillips was declared the winner on points at the end of 15 punishing rounds - an extremely unconvincing decision.
Anderson looked slightly the bigger as well as taller of the two and at the start sought to exploit his strength by boring into his man and gaining an ascendancy at close quarters. This certainly cramped Phillip's swinging style though occasionally he managed to break loose. By the third round both men seemed prepared to take a chance in the open. Most of Phillip's heavier swings went astray but his left leads and jabs began to steady Anderson a little and compel him also to box for openings.
Phillips continued to force matters but suddenly in the fourth round he caught a severe left hook to the chin and fell into the ropes. He was so dazed on rising that it was surprising he survived the round. Altogether he was on the floor of the ring three more times before the bell came to his rescue. Phillips had recovered sufficiently to make a desperate fight of it in the succeeding rounds and some of his jabs and swings brought him well back into the fight again. For a brief spell Phillips scored fairly heavily.
Phillips did all he could to force matters and throw his man out of his stride, but in the round 14 a right swing to the body by Anderson fairly lifted Phillips off his feet. Phillips was the more aggressive in the last round, but it cannot be said that he made up much of the lost ground. It was a tremendously hard and exciting but rather unsatisfactory encounter. The decision had a very mixed reception."
(The Times, 19 March 1947)
Twenty-seven police officers were stationed outside Hall because of the decision under British Board of Boxing Control rules regarding the colour-bar rule, which caused a public demonstration at the end of the fight. |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1947/66) |