Wallace (Bud) Smith vs. Joe Brown (2nd meeting)

Joe Brown 133 lbs beat Wallace Bud Smith 134 lbs by SD in round 15 of 15

• Date: 1956-08-24
• Location: Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Referee: Roland Brown 12-3
• Judge: Freddie Adams 6-7
• Judge: Charley Dabney 9-3

"The 30 year old Joe Brown from New Orleans, finished with a whirlwind rally in the late rounds to gain a split decision and lift Wallace (Bud) Smith's lightweight title last night. Brown, the target for Smith's pursuit during most of the nationally televised 15 rounder, smashed the 27 year old Cincinnati titleholder to the floor twice in the 14th round. Smith rose from the canvas weary and dazed and a target for Brown's right in the final round. But the finishing right never came. Smith, who initiated most of the aggression before the big crowd, had no argument with the decision. However, it was labeled "hometown" by Smith's trainer, Adolph Ritacco." -Associated Press

• Post fight X-Ray of Brown's right hand showed a broken bone in the wrist.
• All 3 ring officials and the announcer were black and the auditorium was divided into two halves. The whites on the St. Peter's street side and the blacks on the St. Ann street side. This was due to the segregation laws in Louisiana at the time.

Unofficial scorecards

• AP - 8-7 Smith
• UP - 8-7 Brown

Post fight comment

• "I broke the right hand in the 2nd round when I popped him on the chin. I gambled in the 14th by throwing the first right since the 2nd round and it really hurt. I had to gamble, it was the only way to win." -Joe Brown