Billy Grime - The Wombat Walloper
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The lad from Wombat always had an interest in boxing even after he was belted around the ring by Jimmy Sharman’s boxers at the Annual Young Show.
Each year he met Sharman at the railway station and pleaded for another bout, with the inevitable beating by his more experienced opponent. Grime moved to Sydney in 1920 and did the rounds of the boxing promoters.
He had an awkward looking flat footed fighting stance and was a skinny 5ft. 6in boxer, weighing 9 stone. In 1922 he got a match with Bert Spargo, the Australian Featherweight Champion, when Spargo’s scheduled opponent suddenly fell ill. Fans were dismayed. Spargo was not only a clever pug, he was dangerous.
In fact he could be lethal to an awkward novice like the hick from Wombat. But Spargo could only manage a close points decision, in a rematch Grime got the decision. Spargo agreed to a Title fight and after the final bell Grime was the new Featherweight champion.
The boy from Wombat decided if he could win the featherweight so easily he would try for the lightweight title. This he won from Hugh Dwyer in Brisbane on November 1, 1924. Grime decided to take on the welterweights and won the Australian Welterweight title from Eddie Butcher on New Years Day, 1927.
He was now a triple title holder and decided to go to America.
He found it difficult to get a fight in the featherweight division.
He eventually got a fight against top lightweight Doc Snell, who he outclassed but lost the decision anyway.
He got himself a manager and two quick fights, which he won easily.
His manger took him to New York for a fight with Honeyboy Finnegan.
He lost on points and felt dizzy and believed that he was doped, his manager disappeared after the fight.
Grime notched up a few more wins and was set to fight Bobby Garcia. Just before the fight gamblers entered his dressing room and offered him $500 to throw the match, which he refused.
Grime’s opponent was outclassed but won the match, the gamblers had bought the referee.
Grime had a few more bouts but was given bad decisions so decided to go home.
When he went to tell his manager he was going he found the manager, stiff, having been murdered.
Back home grime found new boys holding his Australian titles.
He was heavier and had lost a lot of his speed, but was still a good fighter.
In 1931 he regained his lightweight title for a short period, but knew his great days were over.
He fought on but announced his retirement in 1932.
Billy Grime had retained most of his winnings and this was put into hotels and a travelling caravan selling pots and pans in the country.
His ventures failed and by 1950 he was employed as a lift driver in Melbourne. On April 4th 1952 the Wombat Walloper died from a heart attack, so ended the life of one of the most amazing fighters to grace the Australian ring.
