Ernie Roderick was an outstanding boxer in an era when
Liverpool spawned an abundance of top quality fighters. He lost a world title
bout on points just a few months before the start of the Second World War, the
hostilities preventing a return contest and effectively ending his hopes of
securing this top honour.
He was born in Liverpool on 25th January 1914,
the son of dock labourer John Roderick and his wife Margaret. At the time of
his birth the family home was 53 Mansfield Street L3 (now demolished) and they
would remain there until the 1930’s, later living at 37 Fox Street L3
(demolished) and 31 Osborne Road L13.
Ernie Roderick’s first professional bout was in 1931 and
before long his chosen career took him to the other side of the world when he had
a number of fights in Australia in 1933. Whether or not the trip did much for
his development seems questionable as when he returned his form took a serious
dip in 1934 in which he lost seven times. However, 1935 saw him bounce back in
some style with a run of 17 victories and one draw. His first title came in
1939 when he beat the Scot Jake Kilrain to take the British Welterweight crown. (Highlights of the fight can be seen on an old newsreel on YouTube). Soon after he got a crack at the World Welterweight title, taking on the
American Henry Armstrong at Harringey, going the full distance to lose on
points. (Short highlights can be viewed on YouTube). Talk of a return bout faded as war came and in 1940 Roderick joined the
RAF. He continued to defend his title during the war years and in May 1945 he
beat Vince Hawkins to claim the British Middleweight title, thus holding titles
at two weights simultaneously. In June 1946 a win against Omar Kuidri brought
him the European Welterweight title. This represented the pinnacle of his
career and he would lose his three titles over the next two years, retiring
from the sport in 1950.
On the 26th of August 1939, a matter of days
before war would arrive, he married his wife Edna. This cemented a great
friendship as she was the sister of his pal and fellow boxer, the great Nel
Tarleton. They had three children. Following their marriage Ernie and Edna
lived at 3 Mostyn Avenue L10, moving in the 1950’s to 146 Utting Avenue East
L11. After his wife’ death in 1963, aged just 49, Ernie Roderick lived at 5 Rocky Lane L6.
Ernie Roderick died after a heart attack in Sefton General
Hospital on 5th June 1986 aged 72. Reporting his death the Liverpool
Echo paid tribute to a great fighter, commenting that “they did not come
any braver …. One of the genuine old-time greats, a man who would fight anyone
anywhere”.
