Found this card in SF Call. Smith was fighting in San Francisco around this time & reports of other fights report Smith from Boston so probably the same fighter
California A.C. - San Francisco - 20/01/1892
Billy Smith W5 Billy Kelly
Walter Brown (Coloured) bt Jim McCarthy
Jack Riordan bt E. O'Brien
Henry Heect bt Charles Dixon (Coloured)
Billy Smith of Boston defeated Billy Kelly.
The contest between Smith and Kelly was spirited and both had their faces painted a bright vermillion when the contest was ended in the fifth round[sic].
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... ge&page=12
Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
Any reason this has not been dealt with?
I stopped sending new fights in a while ago due to posts going unanswered
I stopped sending new fights in a while ago due to posts going unanswered
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
I looked into this, but the problem is that Mysterious Billy Smith's recorded fights in SF all last at least ten rounds and it was common for fighters to fight shorter exhibitions when they traveled. From the article, it is unclear if the five rounder was an exhibition, or a longer fight that was stopped in the fifth round. Until that can be determined, this bout would probably not be added to the record. Thank you for finding it though and trying to add to boxing history sir 
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
Thanx for reply dnahar32. That sort of makes sense but records for other fighters have fights listed as date unknown or they have W? were no round is present. Also some of the fighters around this period have amateur bouts listed whereas others don't.dnahar32 wrote:I looked into this, but the problem is that Mysterious Billy Smith's recorded fights in SF all last at least ten rounds and it was common for fighters to fight shorter exhibitions when they traveled. From the article, it is unclear if the five rounder was an exhibition, or a longer fight that was stopped in the fifth round. Until that can be determined, this bout would probably not be added to the record. Thank you for finding it though and trying to add to boxing history sir
It's just a little confusing what exactly constitutes a fight that can be listed & what doesn't. Just as an example I've done some research on Wilmington Jack Daly http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer.
The first fights x3 listed are amateur fights & the 1895 Joseph Burnett fight is listed as KO? (actually 9th round), so not sure how things work in making a decision to list a fight.
I've noticed also, although is my own take on the info but sometimes an article may say exhibition of boxing even when its an actual fight(s).
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
San Francisco Chronicle:
The weekly exhibition of the California Athletic Club last night was largely attended. The four-round contests were unusually lively.
...
Billy Smith of Boston waded into Pipestem Kelly, the Jessie-street Cyclone, as if to do him in a round, but got a hot reception and a badly damaged eye that took much of the shine out of him. The contest was so even that an extra round was ordered, both being bloody and pugnacious at the end of the fourth. The fifth round was also very close and spirited, the wire-drawn athlete from the Jessie street landing a couple of corking rights on the Beantown beauty that imparted to his manly countenance the healthful flush of a newly constructed bologna sausage. The representative of culture replied vigorously with both hands, and Referee Allen, after thoughtfully chewing an inch off the end of his mustache, awarded him the victory by one point.
"Which point?" asked George A. Knight.
"The point of Kelly's nose, I guess," replied Director Chesley, and the next fray was announced.
...
The weekly exhibition of the California Athletic Club last night was largely attended. The four-round contests were unusually lively.
...
Billy Smith of Boston waded into Pipestem Kelly, the Jessie-street Cyclone, as if to do him in a round, but got a hot reception and a badly damaged eye that took much of the shine out of him. The contest was so even that an extra round was ordered, both being bloody and pugnacious at the end of the fourth. The fifth round was also very close and spirited, the wire-drawn athlete from the Jessie street landing a couple of corking rights on the Beantown beauty that imparted to his manly countenance the healthful flush of a newly constructed bologna sausage. The representative of culture replied vigorously with both hands, and Referee Allen, after thoughtfully chewing an inch off the end of his mustache, awarded him the victory by one point.
"Which point?" asked George A. Knight.
"The point of Kelly's nose, I guess," replied Director Chesley, and the next fray was announced.
...
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
Hey SenyaSenya13 wrote:San Francisco Chronicle:
The weekly exhibition of the California Athletic Club last night was largely attended. The four-round contests were unusually lively.
...
Billy Smith of Boston waded into Pipestem Kelly, the Jessie-street Cyclone, as if to do him in a round, but got a hot reception and a badly damaged eye that took much of the shine out of him. The contest was so even that an extra round was ordered, both being bloody and pugnacious at the end of the fourth. The fifth round was also very close and spirited, the wire-drawn athlete from the Jessie street landing a couple of corking rights on the Beantown beauty that imparted to his manly countenance the healthful flush of a newly constructed bologna sausage. The representative of culture replied vigorously with both hands, and Referee Allen, after thoughtfully chewing an inch off the end of his mustache, awarded him the victory by one point.
"Which point?" asked George A. Knight.
"The point of Kelly's nose, I guess," replied Director Chesley, and the next fray was announced.
...
Thanx for putting this up. You may know me as scribbs from other forums especially the old cbz forum.
Just curious in how you would list this - an exhibition or a genuine fight? Seems like some newspapers would say exhibition of boxing but the cards were possibly genuine bouts.
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
The SF Chronicle article convinced me that it was a genuine fight and I added it to the record.
If you can provide proof of the exhibitions in Wilmington Jack Daly's record, I will remove those.
In general, record keeping, especially with the very old bouts, is a fluid process. Many fights were listed without dates, and decades of research helped get the dates for most of the fights. However, for those without dates, there usually was some reason they got on the record so they usually stay until they are proved incorrect.
Keep up the research! I, and most people that work on this site, do it voluntarily and for the benefit of the wonderful fighters that have graced this sport and for the fight fans that want to celebrate their exploits.
If you can provide proof of the exhibitions in Wilmington Jack Daly's record, I will remove those.
In general, record keeping, especially with the very old bouts, is a fluid process. Many fights were listed without dates, and decades of research helped get the dates for most of the fights. However, for those without dates, there usually was some reason they got on the record so they usually stay until they are proved incorrect.
Keep up the research! I, and most people that work on this site, do it voluntarily and for the benefit of the wonderful fighters that have graced this sport and for the fight fans that want to celebrate their exploits.
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
Nice it's been added dnahar32.dnahar32 wrote:The SF Chronicle article convinced me that it was a genuine fight and I added it to the record.
If you can provide proof of the exhibitions in Wilmington Jack Daly's record, I will remove those.
In general, record keeping, especially with the very old bouts, is a fluid process. Many fights were listed without dates, and decades of research helped get the dates for most of the fights. However, for those without dates, there usually was some reason they got on the record so they usually stay until they are proved incorrect.
Keep up the research! I, and most people that work on this site, do it voluntarily and for the benefit of the wonderful fighters that have graced this sport and for the fight fans that want to celebrate their exploits.
It's just a little confusing as exhibition is a subjective term. The smokers of the time had exhibitions but also seem to have had genuine fights also. Some papers seem to state exhibition (as the Chronicle article for this fight) for a card of genuine fights, that's my grey area.
In regards to Wilmington Jack Daly I'm going through files I have accumulated & still searching my sources for new fights. In regards to his record - the database has his fights vs Dee, Burns & O'Neil (1892) when these were fought for the Atlantic Association AAU title as stated on his Bio page (as 18th & 20th Feb) but under his real name of Moriarity but Inquirer has his initial as G & not C(ornelius).
Sunday, February 14, 1892, Philadelphia Inquirer - Page: 5
I have other fights also. I can go through them & post them but recently sent files to surfbat who fowarded the new Matty Matthews vs Jack Dempsey (1893) & Owen Ziegler vs Jack Hudson (1900).
I also posted a printed record of Rube Ferns as I have sent in some fights for him in the past but understand you require specific reports to be truly accurate.
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... s#p3570826
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
Adding to the confusion is that some fighters fought amateur tournaments after they were pros in that era. I have a report that a Buffalo fighter with 3 pro fights went up to Canada and fought and won a Canadian amateur tournament. 
Re: Possible New Mysterious Billy Smith bout?
Thanx for replies dnahar32 & wsbuf.
I started collecting files for a certain fighter (which escalated to other fighters) about 3 years ago so still quite new to this. Different historians have different criteria for compiling records so your comments have enlightened myself somewhat.
I started collecting files for a certain fighter (which escalated to other fighters) about 3 years ago so still quite new to this. Different historians have different criteria for compiling records so your comments have enlightened myself somewhat.