Gunboat Smith

American boxer

Gunboat Smith

Smith, early 1900s

Born|

Edward Smith

(1887-02-17)February 17, 1887

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Died| August 6, 1974(1974-08-06) (aged 87)

Leesburg, Florida, U.S.

Nationality| American
Other names| Gunboat
Statistics
Weight(s)| Heavyweight
Height| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Reach| 72 in (180 cm)
Stance| Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights| 140
Wins| 81
Wins by KO| 38
Losses| 49 (references vary)
Draws| 13

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.

## Boxing career

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Manhattan (1924) - Joe Madden
* The Shock Punch (1925) - Terrence O'Rourke
* Lovers in Quarantine (1925) - Sailor Sheldon
* The Fear Fighter (1925) - Prison Inmate
* Lovers in Quarantine (1925) - Minor Role (uncredited)
* Bashful Buccaneer (1925)
* Let's Get Married (1926) - Slattery
* The Arizona Streak (1926) - Jim
* Say It Again (1926) - Gunner Jones
* The Great Gatsby (1926) - Bert
* Wings (1927) - The Sergeant
* We're All Gamblers (1927) - Gunboat
* The City Gone Wild (1927) - Policeman
* Midnight Rose (1928) - Casey

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* Boxing record for Gunboat Smith from BoxRec (registration required)
* Gunboat Smith at IMDb

Titles in pretence

Preceded by

Arthur Pelkey

|  World White Heavyweight Champion
January 1, 1914 - July 16, 1914  | Succeeded by

Georges Carpentier

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States