BoxRec

I'm doing a bit of writing about journeymen and I'd like to speak to anyone who knew Billy Smith and / or his brother Ernie either professionally or personally. Anyone happy to have their opinions in print please get in touch. Send me a PM with a phone number and I'll give you a quick call. Cheers.

Like alot of Boxers my Bro Kevin mcintyre fought Ernie smith when he first turned over in early 2000 i belive

there fight involved a bit of gamesmanship with Ernie trying to wind him up and then ernie swinging and missing landing on the floor and my bro doing a little dance , think ernie was dishing out the wanker signs too ha ha

if you want his number you could phone / text and maybe he has bit about him

Junker wrote:I'm doing a bit of writing about journeymen and I'd like to speak to anyone who knew Billy Smith and / or his brother Ernie either professionally or personally. Anyone happy to have their opinions in print please get in touch. Send me a PM with a phone number and I'll give you a quick call. Cheers.

Appreciate that gazmac, thanks. Can you pm me his number pls?

ive text him to give him heads up

says your writing about Journeymen , i thern left a gap so he takes that as an insult and then told him its about Ernie

Junker wrote:Appreciate that gazmac, thanks. Can you pm me his number pls?

I boxed billy but never really had any conversations with him or never knew him, boxed me at about 12 hours notice, without him I wouldn't have boxed which meant no money for me, appreciated it

My brother boxed Ernie,and broke his hands, i had a great chat with earnie before he fought davey Jones (which he got a draw) id be happy to help you in sure my brother would too

Matt Teague wrote:My brother boxed Ernie,and broke his hands, i had a great chat with earnie before he fought davey Jones (which he got a draw) id be happy to help you in sure my brother would too

I remember your brother fighting Ernie it was at the cleethorpes winter gardens wasn't it both Ernie and billy were really tough guys I knew Ernie and billy very well and was gutted at their demise RIP

Yes spudder, that's right, ernie was a great man, very friendly i never met billy, just had few chats on Facebook with him, awful what happened to them both, true fighting men

[quote="Junker"]I'm doing a bit of writing about journeymen and I'd like to speak to anyone who knew Billy Smith and / or his brother Ernie either professionally or personally. Anyone happy to have their opinions in print please get in touch. Send me a PM with a phone number and I'll give you a quick call. Cheers .I Refereed Billy 5 Times.Great Lad,When I Would Arrive At Show And Find Out Which Bouts I Was Doing.If I Got Billy I Knew My Job Would Be Easy.Always In Good Shape,Tough As Teak And Good Defence.Never Ever A Problem.A Joy To Work With.Was Sad News When Billy Passed Away.I Sure Everyone In Boxing Misses Billy On The Boxing Circuit.

both billy and ernie were a credit to themselves and the sport and are missed around the circuit

billy nelson wrote:both billy and ernie were a credit to themselves and the sport and are missed around the circuit

X2 mate

.

Billy Smith was a right character on the circuit.

I "whipped" a number of shows he boxed on ... proper nice lad but he had that look not be messed with - I called him an ugly **** once he gave me a right look, then when he saw I sh*tting myself .. he took the p*ss. Another time he arrived at the venue late, I was flapping like a f*cker because we had him on second fight "what the f*ck is wrong with you Spud I am here now" ... my reply was "I will see if I can get the running order changed" as with a lot of journeymen Billy just wanted to fight, get paid, then f*ck off home, so he duly boxed when he should have, got his money and left.

When the tragic news came out about his death, like a lot of people I was genuinally gutted, life is so complex, personally I dont think we will ever understand why people want to take their lives. Boxing is defintely the poorer without the likes of Billy around ... I hope he has now found peace.

Spud wrote:Billy Smith was a right character on the circuit.

I "whipped" a number of shows he boxed on ... proper nice lad but he had that look not be messed with - I called him an ugly **** once he gave me a right look, then when he saw I sh*tting myself .. he took the p*ss. Another time he arrived at the venue late, I was flapping like a f*cker because we had him on second fight "what the f*ck is wrong with you Spud I am here now" ... my reply was "I will see if I can get the running order changed" as with a lot of journeymen Billy just wanted to fight, get paid, then f*ck off home, so he duly boxed when he should have, got his money and left.

When the tragic news came out about his death, like a lot of people I was genuinally gutted, life is so complex, personally I dont think we will ever understand why people want to take their lives. Boxing is defintely the poorer without the likes of Billy around ... I hope he has now found peace.

Good post!!

Billy and he's bro were a bit of an inspiration for me before I started. They were both exactly what they looked. Hard bastards. Me and billy boxed and the same places quite regular and became quite good mates.always shared info,tales and a few snout before we went in.depresion has been a big part of my life for a long time and their deaths, Billy's in quite a big way hit me quite hard and has made me look at my life. Great shame! Ill always remember billy. Game as you like. Top man. Men!

Well said Johnny, hope your keeping well mate

johnnygreaves wrote:Billy and he's bro were a bit of an inspiration for me before I started. They were both exactly what they looked. Hard bastards. Me and billy boxed and the same places quite regular and became quite good mates.always shared info,tales and a few snout before we went in.depresion has been a big part of my life for a long time and their deaths, Billy's in quite a big way hit me quite hard and has made me look at my life. Great shame! Ill always remember billy. Game as you like. Top man. Men!

Hey mate, you will do ok for yourself Johnny ... find something to focus on!!

I have some deep lows pal because of the parkies ... but meeting the likes of you & Billy has been as good as meeting some of the stars so a massive THANK YOU has to come your and others way!!

The likes of you, Billy and the other journeymen have kept boxing going pal ... boxing is in debt to you all!!

Nice one spud & Matty. Likewise spud. Was always good seeing you and being on the shows you worked as , like you said. We wanted to be in and out sharpish. You knew that and tried to help us where you could.the depresion thing is something you have to find a way to control. When its bad its a nightmare.hope you keep controlling it and if there's ever anything I could help you with I'd really like to help you mate.

Junker wrote:I'm doing a bit of writing about journeymen and I'd like to speak to anyone who knew Billy Smith and / or his brother Ernie either professionally or personally. Anyone happy to have their opinions in print please get in touch. Send me a PM with a phone number and I'll give you a quick call. Cheers.

Nice of you Junker to write about them . It'll be good for people to read esp for people that knew them and remember. I knew a bloke who killed himself. I never really talked to him a lot. Wish I did now. I got the feeling he didn't have anyone. If I knew now that he would go on to kill himself I would've gone out my way to help him.

Be nice tribute to both Ernie and Bill and for their kids to read.

Hi all, just wanted to say thanks to everyone who replied and all the guys I spoke to on the phone about the Smith brothers. My 'Journeymen' project is off the ground... The book probably won't be out until the latter part of the year, but I've started a twitter for it @MarkTurley72 and if I can figure out how to use it, I'll be posting updates there as I go along for anyone whose interested.
Thanks again and obviously if anyone else has anything to share about the Smiths pls get in touch. Cheers.