Thoughts on Mysterious Billy Smith

Benny The Kid · Post by **Benny The Kid** » 06 Jan 2007, 16:44

I was wondering if anybody had any thoughts they would like to state about this boxer..From 1890-1915. This is a guy who should have most definately have been world champ of the welterweight. Knocking down Rube fern 15 times! Then losing on a foul! What a way to lose a world championship! This guy was one of the best welterweight, for a solid period of time..yet doesn't even get mentioned hardly. Any body having any thoughts on how good he was? also welcome me to the board.

theone · Post by **theone** » 06 Jan 2007, 17:01

Dont know too much about him except that he was a very dirty fighter and had one of my favorite boxing names ever. Welcome to the board.

barry · Post by **barry** » 06 Jan 2007, 17:36

I've got clippings for most of his fights and have been working on a scrapbook for Smith, but I'm still in the clipping and pasting part. Smith was one of the absolute toughest SOB's to ever step in the ring. He had Walcott so upset before one of they're bouts that he didn't really know what to do. Smith had told Walcott that if he at any time got an advantage over Smith then he would bite his ears off...which Smith said not as a joke, but with serious intent. Personally, I think he was, hands down, the dirtiest fighter that ever lived. He was really talented too, but he'd just as soon foul an opponent and lose and enjoyed it about as much as winning. He was a very intimidating fighter and there were not many that did not fear stepping in the ring with him due to his dirty tactics. Smith is certainly an interesting chararcter and a fighter that is really fun to read about. Bill Shutte wrote a small biography for Smith back in the 80s, which is a pretty rare title, but a copy shows up every now and then on ebay.