Buck Smith

[Carlos Danger]

A good puncher, but never more than a journeyman in skill level. His amazing winning streak it seems like he would have been a nice feather in the cap of a standing champion to have beat him sometime during his 109 fight unbeaten streak (1989-1992). Why didn't he ever get a title shot?

[drunkenpiper36]

What I can't figure out is why the guy had so many damn no contests. Was he on drugs for a lot of those fights?

[tommo100]

iv`e read that buck smith was in a club when the original fighter didn't show and the mc asked the crowd if there was anyone who wanted a go,hence buck took the ring and found out he was pretty good at this fight game(good enough to hang around for 4 rounds that is)he liked it that much in his own words he was fighting a bum a month and picking up useful money for it,i don`t think for one minute even buck thought he was going anywhere in the game,he just enjoyed the fights,he wasn't a complete tomato can though,he was rarely knocked out and as you`ve stated he possessed a decent punch,i saw him in action on sportsnight once when he ko`d Kirkland laing,despite being somewhat outboxed and perplexed for 6 rounds

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Yeah, titles weren't in his plans. I think I recall reading that he would just jump in his car and cruise around the country for fights. He was on ESPN a few times.

[Carlos Danger]

My first exposure to Buck was seeing him on ESPN when he fought his winning rematch with Robert Wangila. he Ko'd wangila in 2 and I saw he had almost 100 fights and I wondered at the time why I never heard of the guy.

***

I too always wondered what the NC's were about.

[drunkenpiper36]

I think I recall reading that he would just jump in his car and cruise around the country for fights.

Now THAT'S a fighter.

[Dart340]

I was a big Buck Smith fan as he was the ultimate underdog coming into a sport with no amateur experience and doing it the old school way. I remember him saying the regular tank town fights were essentially "getting paid instead of sparring for free" and seemed like a smart guy. He was borderline top 20 maybe? He was really competitive with Kevin Pompey right around his peak and he had to be durable and talented to go 15 rounds with Harold Brazier. I wish he would have made a bigger run up the rankings as he was an easy guy to root for.