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Gunboat Smith
Gunboat Smith
	Smith, early 1900s
Born	Edward Smith; February 17, 1887; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 6, 1974 (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

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

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

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

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

^ ^a ^b Allen, Dave, “Gunboat Smith,” Ring News, April 20, 2011
^ Heller, Peter (1994). In This Corner...!. New York, New York: Da Capo Press. p. 31. ISBN 0-306-80603-7.
^ Gunboat Smith's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-03.
^ Heller, Peter (1994). In This Corner...!. New York, New York: Da Capo Press. p. 32. ISBN 0-306-80603-7.