Edward "Gunboat" Smith (February 17, 1887 – August 6, 1974) was an Irish American boxer, film actor and later a boxing referee. During his career, Smith faced twelve different Boxing Hall of Famers a combined total of 23 times. Among the all-time greats he faced were Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb, Sam Langford, and Georges Carpentier.

Gunboat Smith
Smith, early 1900s
Born
Edward Smith

(1887-02-17)February 17, 1887
DiedAugust 6, 1974(1974-08-06) (aged 87)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesGunboat
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Reach72 in (180 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights140
Wins81
Wins by KO38
Losses49 (references vary)
Draws13

Boxing career

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Smith (right) during his first encounter with Arthur Pelkey
 
Gunboat Smith stands over a knocked-down Pelkey during a match on January 1, 1914 in San Francisco, California. Smith defeated Pelkey for the World White Heavyweight Championship.

Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent much of his youth in orphanages, working on farms and on the railroads. He joined the U.S. Navy, where he began boxing and won the heavyweight championship of the Pacific Fleet.

In 1910, Smith became known in the Oakland and San Francisco areas by serving as a sparring partner for Jack Johnson and Stanley Ketchel before their heavyweight title fight there. Author Jack London knew Smith and helped fund his training.

From 1912–1915, Smith established himself as a leading candidate for the heavyweight title, beating, among others, British and British Empire champion Bombardier Billy Wells and future world champion Jess Willard, and beating and losing to Sam Langford in two fights. He fought many other ranked fighters, but before his death, Smith was asked to name the greatest fighter he ever met. His response: Langford, in his words, “The best of all of them.”[1]

In 1914, Smith won the World White Heavyweight Championship. This title, created by boxing promoters due to the unpopularity of the black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, was never widely recognized. He lost the "title" to Georges Carpentier later that year in a bout with a purse of 9,000 pounds sterling.[2]

After 1916, Smith's career suffered a decline; in 1917, he suffered a loss by decision to future champion Jack Dempsey in a hotly contested four-round fight. A year later, he was knocked to the canvas 9 times by Dempsey, suffering a one-sided second-round knock out.

In 1920 and 1921, Smith suffered a string of KO losses and retired after suffering a one-round knockout to the great heavyweight contender Harry Wills. He finished with a record of 81 wins, 46 losses, and 13 draws, a total of 140 bouts. “Not a great record on paper,” Dave Allen remarked, “but one that becomes much more impressive when you take into consideration that he fought the very best of his era.”[1]

Smith was lean and scrappy, an excellent boxer who moved well and hit sharply with both hands. Among the men he defeated were Willard, Langford, Wells, Battling Levinsky, Carl Morris, Frank Moran, and Fireman Jim Flynn.

Professional boxing record

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52 Wins (38 Knockouts), 28 Defeats (12 Knockouts), 10 Draws, 1 No Contest[3]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss 52-28-10   Harry Wills KO 1 (20), 1:07 1921-10-10   Stadium, Havana, Cuba
Loss 52-27-10   Bob Martin KO 3 (10) 1921-05-30   Huntington, West Virginia
Loss 52-26-10   Al Roberts KO 10 (12) 1921-03-09   Commonwealth Sporting Club, New York, New York
Loss 52-25-10   Harry Greb KO 1 (10) 1920-10-21   Springbrook Park, South Bend, Indiana
Loss   Bob Roper NWS 10 1920-09-06   Springbrook Park, Fort Worth, Texas Newspaper decision
Draw 52-24-10   Bob Roper PTS 15 1920-08-09   Columbus, Ohio
Win   Texas Tate NWS 12 1920-08-03   Panther Park, Fort Worth, Texas Newspaper decision
Loss   Chuck Wiggins NWS 10 1920-07-15   Ramona Baseball Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan Newspaper decision
Win   Tony Melchior NWS 10 1920-06-26   Ramona Baseball Park, East Chicago, Indiana Newspaper decision
Loss 52-24-9   Lee Anderson PTS 4 1920-05-13   San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
Loss 52-23-9   Fred Fulton KO 2 (10) 1920-04-07   Milwaukie Coliseum, Milwaukie, Oregon
Win 52-22-9   Andre Anderson PTS 4 1920-03-10   American Legion A.A, Fresno, California
Loss 51-22-9   Bill Tate PTS 4 1920-02-25   Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California
Win 51-21-9   Willie Meehan PTS 4 1920-02-04   Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California
Win 50-21-9   Carl Morris PTS 4 1920-01-23   American Legion A.A, Fresno, California
Draw 49-21-9   Ole Anderson PTS 4 1919-12-11   San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
Draw 49-21-8   Carl Morris PTS 4 1919-12-03   Oakland Auditorium, Oakland
Win 49-21-7   Fat LaRue PTS 4 1919-11-19   Oakland Auditorium, Oakland
Loss 48-21-7   Frank Farmer PTS 6 1919-11-05   Seattle Arena, Seattle, Washington
Loss 48-20-7   Noel "Boy" McCormick PTS 4 1919-10-30   San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
Loss 48-19-7   K.O. Kruvosky PTS 4 1919-10-23   San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
Loss 48-18-7   Jack Dempsey KO 2 (8) 1918-12-30   Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Loss   Billy Miske NWS 8 1918-07-12   International League Ballpark, Jersey City, New Jersey Newspaper decision
Draw 48-17-7   Tom McMahon PTS 15 1918-07-04   Highland Park, Dayton, Ohio
Loss   Leo Houck NWS 6 1918-05-27   Erne Club, Lancaster, Pennsylvania Newspaper decision
Loss 48-17-6   Billy Miske PTS 10 1918-04-12   Atlanta Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia
Loss   Clay Turner NWS 10 1918-04-01   Majestic Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Newspaper decision
Loss   Hugh Walker NWS 12 1918-03-08   Joplin, Missouri Newspaper decision
Win   Emmett Kid Wagner NWS 10 1918-02-18   Majestic Theatre, Wilkes-Barre Newspaper decision
Loss 48-16-6   Charley Weinert PTS 12 1918-01-09   Marieville Gardens, North Providence, Rhode Island
Loss 48-15-6   Fred Fulton TKO 7 (10) 1917-11-27   Arcadia Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Loss 48-14-6   Jack Dempsey PTS 4 1917-10-02   Recreation Park, San Francisco
Win   Frank Moran NWS 10 1917-09-07   St. Nicholas Arena, New York Newspaper decision
Loss   Kid Norfolk NWS 10 1917-08-20   Airdome A.C., Rochester, New York Newspaper decision
Win   Bill Tate NWS 10 1917-08-10   Brown's Gym A.A., Queens, New York Newspaper decision
Draw   Kid Norfolk NWS 10 1917-08-03   Urban Liberty Park, Buffalo Newspaper decision
Win   Jack Clifford NWS 10 1917-06-02   Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Draw   Bob McAllister NWS 10 1917-05-29   Pioneer Sporting Club, New York Newspaper decision
Loss 48-13-6   Jack Dillon PTS 20 1917-02-16   Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
Draw 48-12-6   Jack Moran PTS 12 1917-01-31   Saint Louis, Missouri
Loss   Battling Levinsky NWS 10 1917-01-01   Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Loss   Tom Cowler NWS 10 1916-12-25   Flower City A.C., Rochester, New York Newspaper decision
Win   Frank Moran NWS 10 1916-12-18   Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Loss 48-12-5   Battling Levinsky PTS 12 1917-01-01   Arena (Armory A.A.), Brooklyn
Win   Joe Cox NWS 10 1916-10-03   Broadway Arena, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Win   Tom Cowler NWS 10 1916-09-26   Broadway Arena, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Win   Jim Coffey NWS 6 1916-09-23   National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Newspaper decision
Win 48-11-5   Cleve Hawkins TKO 3 (10) 1916-09-18   Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
Win   Tom McMahon NWS 10 1916-07-10   Rochester, New York Newspaper decision
Win 47-11-5   Arthur Pelkey PTS 8 1916-06-07   Phoenix A.C., Memphis, Tennessee
Loss   Battling Levinsky NWS 6 1916-05-15   Olympia A.C., Philadelphia Newspaper decision
Win   Bob Devere NWS 10 1916-04-28   Syracuse Arena, Syracuse, New York Newspaper decision
Loss 46-11-5   Carl Morris PTS 10 1916-05-15   Tulsa, Oklahoma
Loss   Dan Flynn NWS 10 1916-03-30   Manhattan Opera House, New York Newspaper decision
Loss   Jack Dillon NWS 10 1916-03-14   Broadway Arena, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Loss 46-10-5   Jim Coffey KO 4 (10), 1:55 1915-11-29   Madison Square Garden, New York
Win   Joe Cox NWS 8 1915-11-09   Saint Louis Coliseum, Saint Louis Newspaper Decision
Loss 46-9-5   Colin Bell PTS 10 1915-10-07   Sohmer Park, Montreal, Quebec
Win   Al Reich NWS 10 1915-10-04   St. Nicholas Arena, New York Newspaper decision
Win   Sailor Jack Carroll NWS 10 1915-09-04   Broadway S.C, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Win   Jack Hemple NWS 10 1915-08-18   St. Nicholas Arena, New York Newspaper decision
Win   Tom Cowler NWS 10 1915-07-28   St. Nicholas Arena, New York Newspaper decision
Loss   Charley Weinert NWS 10 1915-07-01   Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Win   Dick Gilbert NWS 12 1915-05-10   National A.C, Denver, Colorado Newspaper decision
Win 46-8-5   Tom McCarty PTS 12 1915-04-20   Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston, Massachusetts
Win   Charley Weinert NWS 10 1915-04-13   Broadway Arena, Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Win   Jack Reed NWS 10 1915-03-27   Irving A.C., Brooklyn Newspaper decision
Loss   Jack Dillon NWS 10 1915-03-16   Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee Newspaper decision
Win   Fireman Jim Flynn NWS 10 1915-02-01   Cincinnati, Ohio Newspaper decision
Win 45-8-5   Battling Levinsky PTS 20 1915-01-27   Greenwall Theater, New Orleans
Draw 44-8-5   Battling Levinsky PTS 12 1915-01-01   Waterbury Auditorium, Waterbury, Connecticut
Win 44-8-4   Chick Carsey TKO 3 (10) 1914-12-28   Long Acre A.C, New York
Win 43-8-4   Tom McCarty TKO 4 (10) 1914-12-23   Manhattan Casino, New York
Win   Jim Coffey NWS 10 1914-12-15   Madison Square Garden, New York Newspaper decision
Loss 42-8-4   Sam Langford KO 3 (12) 1914-10-20   Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
Loss   Battling Levinsky NWS 10 1914-10-09   Manhattan Casino, New York Newspaper decision
Win   Cyclone Johnny Thompson NWS 6 1914-09-28   Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Newspaper decision
Loss 42-7-4   Georges Carpentier DQ 6 (20) 1914-07-16   Olympia, Kensington, London Lost "White" heavyweight title
Win   Jack Blackburn NWS 6 1914-05-20   National A.C., Philadelphia Newspaper decision
Win 42-6-4   Arthur Pelkey TKO 15 (20) 1914-01-01   Coffroth's Arena, Daly City, California Won "White" heavyweight title
Win 41-6-4   Sam Langford PTS 12 1913-11-17   Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
Win 40-6-4   Charley Miller KO 3 (10) 1913-10-31   Atlantic Garden A.C, New York
Win 39-6-4   Tony Ross KO 10 (12), 1:30 1913-10-21   Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
Win 38-6-4   Carl Morris DQ 5 (10) 1913-10-09   Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 37-6-4   Fireman Jim Flynn TKO 5 (10) 1913-08-08   Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 36-6-4   George Rodel TKO 3 (10) 1913-06-27   Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 35-6-4   Jess Willard PTS 20 1913-05-20   Eighth Street Arena, San Francisco
Win   George Rodel NWS 10 1913-04-11   New Amsterdam Opera House, New York Newspaper Decision
Win 34-6-4   Fred McKay KO 2 (10) 1913-04-02   Fairmont A.C., Brooklyn
Win 33-6-4   Bombardier Billy Wells KO 2 (10) 1913-03-14   Madison Square Garden, New York

After boxing

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After his retirement, Smith went on to have a variety of jobs: runner on Wall Street, private policeman at Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium, and an actor in several small roles in silent films, including The Great Gatsby and Wings, the first Academy Award-winner for Best Picture.[4] He also refereed boxing matches, such as the Harry Greb vs. Tiger Flowers middleweight championship bout in 1926 and the controversial Max Schmeling vs. Jack Sharkey return heavyweight championship contest in 1932.

He died in 1974 in Florida.

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b Allen, Dave, “Gunboat Smith,” Ring News, April 20, 2011
  2. ^ Heller, Peter (1994). In This Corner...!. New York, New York: Da Capo Press. p. 31. ISBN 0-306-80603-7.
  3. ^ Gunboat Smith's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-03.
  4. ^ Heller, Peter (1994). In This Corner...!. New York, New York: Da Capo Press. p. 32. ISBN 0-306-80603-7.
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Titles in pretence
Preceded by World White Heavyweight Champion
January 1, 1914 - July 16, 1914
Succeeded by