Fred Spiller

Fred Spiller started boxing in public in the early part of the 20th century, and his first win of note was in capturing the featherweight title at the Northampton Institute Novices Championship in 1903. He lost to the great Fred Grace in the semi-final of the Polytechnic Open Championship in 1906, and the following year beat the New Zealand lightweight champion Alfred Blewden on the way to the ABA final, where he lost to Matt Wells. Spiller lost to Harold Holmes in the second round of the ABA Championships in 1908, but went all the way to the Olympic lightweight final later in the year.

Having disposed of Frank Osborne, George Jessup and Harry Johnson, Spiller succumbed to Fred Grace), in the final. Spiller was unfortunate at the 1909 ABAs, when he was forced to pull out after a first round win over Harry Johnson, after damaging his shoulder so badly that the doctor would not let him continue.

Spiller was elected captain of the Gainsford club in 1909 and continued to win many local club competitions, including those of the Polytechnic and Lynn clubs, and in 1910 was beaten in the final of the prestigious German Gymnasium Association’s Open Championship for the second time (also beaten in 1907). He continued boxing in charity exhibition bouts into the 1920s.