[1] Unbeaten in his first 13 fights which included wins over Nicolas Petit-Biquet and Jim Hanna, he faced Alf Barber at the National Sporting Club in May 1927 for the British flyweight title vacated by Elky Clark;[2][3] Hill stopped Barber in the fourteenth round to become British champion.
[1][7] He was presented with a silver cigarette case by the people of his adopted home of Strathmiglo in September in recognition of his achievement.
[1][10] In March 1929 he successfully defended his British, European, and World titles against Ernie Jarvis at the Royal Albert Hall, taking a points decision.
[12] He was due to face Frankie Genaro in a world title fight on 11 October 1929 but fell ill with pneumonia on 23 September.
[1][4] After two days rest his condition improved but he deteriorated on the night of Thursday 26 September and a burst blood vessel in his lung was diagnosed.