Another thing, Muhammad Ali was smart, he had a very good sense and awareness of what goes into the making of a great photo, an epic photo. He made sure that Simon had the camera ready at certain times, like this image of Ali pouring the sweat out of his shirt after jogging five miles in heavy boots.
Ali was larger than life, one of the most famous people on this planet, when he walked into a room every set of eyes in the room were immediately on him, he had that kind of presence. But he was just a normal person, like everybody else, and he loved to joke around with people. This is one of my favorite photos of Ali at Deer Lake, the expression on his face reminds me of my days in high school, shooting the breeze with my friends.
A few more photos and I'll wrap it up on Ali at Deer Lake, I've really enjoyed posting these photos, Fighter's Heaven was a beautiful place. Great shot of Ali with the mustache in a fight pose.
24-year-old world lightweight champion Ike Williams had a close call against Kid Gavilan, speedy 22-year-old Cuban, in their ten-round non-title fight at Madison Square Garden on this day in 1948. The 135-pound king received a unanimous decision, but to the majority in the crowd of 14,907 the verdict was not a popular one.
The Associated Press reported: "Lightweight champion Ike Williams barely got past Kid Gavilan in a close fight last night at MSG. Cool and efficient, Ike, at 136 1/2, looked his best last night. The champ from Trenton, NJ, time and again picked off Gavilan's leaping left hooks on his gloves and arms. Bobbing and weaving, he nullified the rushing style of the Cuban, who had a five-pound weight pull. Williams jabbed the Kid's left eye closed with his stinging left. With seconds to go in the 8th he landed a crushing right cross to the jaw that dropped the Cuban. The bell rang at the count of eight. Gavilan fought a daring, game battle with his eye a mere slit."
Many sources report this as the first knockdown of iron-chinned Gavilan's career.
Old school Hardee's, the way it was when I was a kid. Cinnamon raisin biscuits for breakfast, roast beef sandwiches, peach milkshakes, fried chicken with the fixins', place was the jam. Sucks now, just a watered down version of Carl's Jr.
Mysterious Billy Smith, two-time welterweight champion in the 1890s, one of the dirtiest fighters in boxing history, maybe THE dirtiest.
Born Amos M. Smith on May 15, 1871 in Little River, Nova Scotia, Canada. Adopted the name “Billy” before turning professional in 1890. He acquired his nickname when a newspaper reporter questioned, “Who is this mysterious Billy Smith?”
Standing 5' 8 ½”, Smith was a talented two-fisted battler with quick hands who entered the ring ready to wage war. He often displayed a blatant disregard for the rules, resorting to a variety of foul tactics including but not limited to elbows, butts, knees and sometimes even biting. His tactics earned him the label as “The Dirtiest Fighter Who Ever Lived.” Smith won the world welterweight title in 1892 from Danny Needham (KO 14) and lost it to seven-time rival Tommy Ryan two years later (L 20). He regained the strap in 1898 from Matty Matthews (W 25) and reigned for two years before dropping the title back to Matthews in 1900 (KO by 19).
Smith continued to box until 1915 and during his career scored wins over Young Peter Jackson, Young Corbett and Hall of Famers “Barbados” Joe Walcott and George “Kid” Lavigne.
“Mysterious” Billy died at the age of 66 on October 15, 1937 in Portland, Oregon, where he ran a saloon called “The Champion's Rest.”
In A Look Back at 1940, we mentioned a boxer named the “Mysterious Billy Smith”, a champion welterweight in the late 1800s and early 1900s who is described in boxing articles and fight reports of that era as the “Pride of Eastport”. We were surprised to learn Eastport had produced such a terrific fighter, a welterweight champion no less.
The newspaper accounts of the era say Billy was born in Eastport on May 15, 1871 but when we checked his biography in Wikipedia we found that while Wiki confirms Mysterious Billy was born on that date, Wikipedia says he was born in Little River Nova Scotia not Eastport. In fact, the Wikipedia article on Mysterious Billy Smith never mentions Eastport, so we became skeptical about “The Pride of Eastport” especially after further research confirmed he was indeed born in Nova Scotia. Nonetheless we kept digging and believe Eastport has every right to claim him as their own. Billy certainly claimed Eastport as his home town.
The confusion over Billy’s antecedents may have arisen because his father was in itinerant fisherman whose children with his wife Adelia were born in several fishing ports on the Bays of Fundy and Passamaquoddy. His older brother Thomas was born in Eastport and his mother died in 1902 in Maine, probably in Eastport. Other siblings were born in Tiverton, Nova Scotia.
We were convinced of Billy’s Eastport connection by Billy himself who granted a reporter a rare interview in 1923 when his stepson launched a boxing career fighting under the name “Mysterious Billy Smith, Jr. In the interview Billy Sr. described his early days as a boxer:
“I always hoped the kid wouldn’t be a boxer but he said what’s good enough for the old man is good enough for him. He wants to box and I know what that means. That’s the reason I’m going to let him. I wanted to fight back in Eastport, Me but my good old folks would have soon seen me a burglar as a boxer. In fact they thought both those were the same thing and they are in some cases but not Mysterious Billy’s. I didn’t take my right name but scrapped under the name of Rogers.”
Billy was also asked during the interview how “Mysterious” had become attached to his name. Smith explained:
I got the moniker “Mysterious Billy” from having fought under an assumed name. When I appeared in New York two or three years afterwards, I went under my right name of Smith. People had heard of Rogers, but nobody knew nothing of Smith, so a sportswriter dubbed me “Mysterious Billy.” Not a bad name at that- the kid thinks it’s good enough for him to start under.”
Billy Smith wins the welterweight championship over Danny Needham
Billy left his Eastport home at 16 after, according to articles in the national press, he had learned the rudiments of boxing on the Eastport docks. He moved to St. John N.B. where he trained to become a professional boxer. His first recorded professional fight was in St. John on December 1, 1890 but he soon relocated to the west coast of the U.S. where he was unknown. He established himself as a hard nose, skillful and somewhat dirty brawler and on December 14, 1892 in San Francisco he claimed the welterweight championship by knockout over Danny Needham. He defended his title in several fight on the East Coast after moving back to Boston in 1893. Many of these epic battles were against Tommy Ryan whom first Billy fought to a draw on August 29, 1893 at Coney Island.
The Buffalo Enquirer of August 30, 1893 acknowledged Billy’s talent but disagreed with the decision which, because it was a draw, allowed Smith to retain his title:
Smith, who is universally conceded the best 140 lb. man living and who is the world’s welterweight champion and a most terrific and brutal fighter met his match and though the decision was declared a draw Ryan had the better of the Boston man.
Smith fought Tony Ryan in several legendary bouts
On July 25, 1894 he lost the welterweight title to Ryan and in 1895, while attempting to regain the title against Ryan, he was saved from a Ryan onslaught by the police who, in the early days of prizefighting, often intervened in bouts if a fighter’s life was in danger. On this occasion the fighters had agreed before the fight that the police could intervene if one of the fighters was in danger of serious injury and refused to quit. Mysterious Billy Smith was hanging nearly senseless on the ropes when the police separated the boxers. Even without a prior agreement the referee or the crowd would sometimes demand the police intervene to stop a fight. Boxing was a brutal sport and no one was tougher and more brutal than Mysterious Billy Smith who never gave up even when beaten.
April 1900 Billy loses the championship
Billy soon regained his title and held it for almost two years before losing it again on April 17, 1900. He was never again a contender for the title although he continued boxing for many years, his last fight being in 1915. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1935 Smith was ranked the third best welterweight to ever step into the ring behind only Joe Walcott and Mickey Walker.
On his 46th birthday in 1917 many newspapers carried this article:
NATAL DAY OF EX – CHAMPION MYSTERIOUS BILLY SMITH (46 Years Old Today)
Born May 15, 1871, at Eastport, Maine
Mysterious Billy Smith, welterweight title holder from 1898 to 1900, was one of the best ring generals in the boxing game in his days. Smith started boxing in 1890 and in 1892, the title being in abeyance, he claimed the same by virtue of his defeats of the leading welterweight contenders. Towards the close of that year he defeated Danny Needham in 14 rounds for the title and a $2,000 side bet. The following year he fought a six – round draw with Tommy Ryan and in 1894 lost the title, being defeated by Ryan in 20 rounds. In 1895 he fought draws, with Joe Wolcott and Ryan and then engaged in a three – round exhibition bout with Peter Maher. In 1896 he lost to Kid McCoy in six rounds, and in 1897, after knocking out Mike Dempsey in two rounds, he again lost to McCoy. That same year he suffered a knockout by George Green in the 12th round. McCoy and Ryan then entered the middleweight ranks and Smith claimed the title, defending it in in a bout with Matty Matthews, held at New York. Smith won the bout after 25 rounds of fighting. He then fought a 20 – round draw with Tommy West and won a 20 – round bout from Joe Wolcott. In 1900 he lost the championship to Rube Ferns, having fouled the latter in the 21st round of their bout. He was later knocked out by Matthews and then lost bouts on fouls to Jimmy Handler and Joe Wolcott. In 1903, after losing to Wolcott in four rounds, he retired from the ring game.
For such a tough and skilled fighter Billy did lose a lot of bouts but 12 of those losses were by disqualification, the most ever by a professional boxer. During one of his six bouts with the legendary Joe Walcott, he bit Joe’s bald head while the boxers were in a clinch. After the fight Walcott told his manager ” Boss, I ain’t going to fight this man no more, he’s a cannibal.”
In 1929 article titled Joe Walcott, The Best in Ring History the sportswriter says this about Mysterious Billy Smith
My recollection goes back to Mysterious Billy Smith, who was a wiry, rugged fellow born in Eastport. Maine, who could box like a streak and had a fondness for slipping in tricks peculiarly his own. Smith would fight anybody. He fought Tommy Ryan seven times, and took on Joe Walcott, the Giant Killer, no less than six. Joe Walcott was one of the best welterweights, and one of the toughest, in all ring history. Both won from other- sometimes Smith won and sometimes Walcott won.
It is said that Mysterious Billy Smith was the only fighter Walcott feared. He knew he could beat Billy but he dreaded the punishment he would take in doing so.
After losing the title Billy returned to the west coast and lived in San Francisco and Portland Oregon where he had operated a sailor’s home and bar for many years. He was widely respected by many in the Portland community, especially by those who frequented the rougher parts of town.
In December 1911 the San Francisco Chronicle reported “Mysterious Billy Smith Shot and Fatally Hurt” which turned out to be an exaggeration. Smith recovered from four gunshot wounds inflicted by his ex-wife’s new husband, a steamboat Captain named Loomis. Billy pulled through although it seemed unlikely he could survive. He told a Portland reporter he didn’t care if Loomis was punished for shooting him but he would like his wife back.
A newspaper article in 1919 describes the robbery of a Portland pool room where Billy was present. The robbers lined all the patrons except Billy against the wall and took all their possessions. According to the newspaper account, “All that was taken from “Mysterious Billy Smith”, ex-prize fighter, was a statement regarding his health.”
Mysterious Billy Smith died in Portland Oregon in 1937.
mysterious billy smith
As late as 1944 boxing aficionados and writers were extolling the reputation of “Mysterious Billy Smith”. As Eastport loves its festivals perhaps a “Mysterious Billy Smith” festival can be slotted in between the 4th and the Salmon and Pirate Festivals.
Footnote: His son, “Mysterious Billy Smith, Jr.” had a short boxing career. He was actually Billy’s stepson but did have some talent. While attending Dartmouth College he was captain of the boxing team and was New England amateur champion in the 147 lb. division. After graduation he won a number of bouts on both the east and the west coasts but in 1929 retired from boxing and became a teacher. He was quoted as saying “Fighting is a lot easier than teaching.”
These are written newspaper accounts of some Mysterious Billy Smith's, he was one rough customer but also a clever fighter. Fascinating stuff.
Credit: boxing forum 24
Mysterious Billy Smith is known for being one of the dirtiest fighters who ever lived, which as far as known, a record number of disqualifications. What people generally don't seem to know is his actual achievements in the ring, or his ability. Nat Fleischer ranked his as the 2nd greatest Welterweight of all time in 1972, behind Joe Walcott. Tommy Ryan said of him "Billy Smith, some called him "Mysterious" certainly was a clever fighter. He was clever, and could hit with either hand, though I should say that his right was a bit the more powerful."
Smith's first known match was in 1890, however his first notable bouts weren't until 1892. The first of these was a 10 round draw with Tommy West. Smith then KOed Billy (Shadow) Maber in the 26th round, and claim the Welterweight Championship of the World. Smith defended his claim with a 14th round KO of Danny Needham, this was no mean feat, Tommy Ryan had fought Needham for 76 rounds, for his claim to the Welterweight crown. In 1893 Smith further backed up his claim with a 2nd round KO of the British Empire Welterweight Champion Tom Williams, as well as winning a 6 round decision over challenger of Jack Dempsey, and former Australian Middleweight Champion Billy M'Carty. In 1894 Smith lost his claim in a match with fellow Welterweight title claiment Tommy Ryan in a 20 round decision. Ryan himself spoke of the hard fought nature of this win noting:
"There was action in every round and was a case of give and take. The pace was furious and each brought Into play every trick of boxing and generalship known at that time. In the seventeenth round. Smith swung a vicious right for my chin. I saw it coming, but not in time to get entirely clear. I swung up my hand and the blow hit me on the throat I am not well posted on medical terms, but I will try and make myself clear to the average reader. For a moment after the blow landed, I seemed to choke. There was a feeling as if the walls of my "Adam's apple" had been caved in."
In 1895 Smith fought a 3 round no decision with Peter Maher, and fought a 15 round draw with Joe Walcott. There were calls for the Walcott fight to go to the finish, but it didn't happen, it appears Walcott won the majority of the rounds, but Smith floored him in the 6th, and won the last two rounds. Smith fought a rematch with champion Tommy Ryan, but was less successful, with police intervening with him helplesson the ropes. Smith also fought draws (exhibitions?) with Dick O'Brien and Jack Powers
In 1896 in the UK Smith beat three opponents in 3 rounds in one night, before facing Bill Husbands, and scoring an 8th round TKO. Smith was then DQ'd against Kid McCoy in round 6, and then was DQ'din the 7th and 9th rounds against Australian Jim Ryan, and Tommy Ryan
In 1897, with Tommy Ryan moving to middlweight, Smith fought Young Corbett (George Green) for the new Welterweight Championship, Smith quit after the 11th arm having had the worse of it, and claiming he broke his arm in the 4th.
Smith started 1898 withsome minor opponents, and another DQ, for hitting an opponent while they were on one knee. Smith then fought a 25 round draw with Joe Walcott. The same year he would avange his loss to Young Corbett with a 25 round decision, and the next month defeat William "Matty" Matthews to claim the Welterweight Crown himself. He fought a 25 rounder with Andy Walsh, in which according to a newspaper he deserved the win, but the bout was declared a draw. He then beat Charlie McKeever over 25 rounds in dominant fashion. He then fought a 20 round catchweight bout with Tommy West, he conceded 20 pounds, and had the worst of it due to West's skills, however it seems to have been an arranged draw. He would then defeat Joe Walcott with a 20 round decision, his won this fight clearly, though Walcott was described as not at his best.
In 1899 he scored a 14th round KO over Australian Billy Edwards, who had recently been the British and South African Middleweight champion, and another 14th round KO over Lightweight champion Kid Lavigne. That year he also fought a 20 round decision against Charlie McKeever, despite previously beating him, in a seeming underperformance, however he would fight another 20 round match with him later that year, this time taking over in the latter half to win descively.
In 1900 Smith fought Rube Ferns, in a bout scheduled for 25, Smith knocked down Fearns 15 times before being DQ'd in the 21st round. Smith seems to have kept his title, and defended it with a 22nd round KO of Frank McConnell, before losing his title claim to William "Matty" Matthews being stopped in the 19th round. That year he also scored a 18th round stoppage over Young Peter Jackson, who would go on to score a KO over the legendary Sam Langford. Smith's fight with Young Peter Jackson was competitive early on, but Smith wore him down with solid body shots took over in after the 10th round, he also worked an old cut, and so the police stopped it after the 18th due the the amount of blood.
The late, great AJ Liebling quoted Doc Kearns (who fought Billy Smith) on him:
“He was always doing something mysterious. Like he would step on your foot, and when you looked down he would bite you in the ear. If I had a fighter like that nowadays, I could lick heavyweights. But we are living in a bad period all around.”
1894-11-19 Jack Powers ND6 (Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada)
1894-11-20 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) (page 1)
St. John, N. B., Nov. 19.--A big crowd saw the six-round fight to-night between Jack Power of this city and "Mysterious" Billy Smith. The conditions of the match required a knock-out in order to obtain a decision. At the end of the sixth round both men were fighting hard and both in condition. No decision was rendered.
1897-05-29 Abe Ullman W20 (New York, NY, USA)
1897-05-30 Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY) (page 15)
New York, May 29.--Mysterious Billy Smith, of Boston, bested Abe Ullman, of Baltimore, in a twenty-round bout in the Polo A. C. to-night in the presence of 3,000 men. They fought at catch weights. Smith's handlers said he weighed 148, but he looked heavier. Ullman turned the scales at 157 pounds. They put up an interesting fight. Smith forced the going in nearly every round and clearly outpointed Ullman. Both men fought foul at times, but as both were to blame nothing was done by the referee. To give Smith his due he was never seen to better advantage in this city and fought remarkably fair considering the provocation he got from Ullman. Referee Frank Abraham's decision pleased the majority of those who saw the bout.
1897-08-23 Jack Powers D8 (Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada)
1897-08-24 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) (page 1)
St. John, N. B., Aug. 23.--The boxing exhibition to-night in the Mechanics Institute was attended by about 1,000 people. The event of the night was the eight-round go between "Mysterious Billy Smith" and Jack Power of this city. From the third round Smith forced the fighting to the finish, but the bout was declared a draw.
The bout was scheduled for eight rounds, and went the limit. At the end both men were fresh, and neither had obtained any advantage. The decision would clearly have been a draw. Both men fought a very clean, scientific battle, extremely creditable. Smith is much the harder hitter, and understands more about the game than Ullman, but the latter's reach and extra weight helped to make up the difference. Ullman has improved very much since his last appearance, and can now give the best of them a hard race.
The rounds were fought through very evenly, Smith doing most of the leading. No effective blows were landed by either man, though some sharp exchanges were had, particularly in the first and last rounds. The fine foot work and the scientific defense were evidently overlooked by some of the crowd of spectators, who, in their thirst for gore, called for more fight.
1898-02-19 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 6)
The star bout between Abe Ulman, of Baltimore, and "Mysterious Billy" Smith, of Boston, at catch-weights, was not so favorably received.
The contest was set for eight rounds, and it not only went the limit, but could have gone an unlimited number of rounds in so far as hurt was inflicted. Smith came heralded as a rough, foul fighter, but stated that he would demonstrate the fact that he was a clean, square performer in the ring. He demonstrated this, and his being on his merits in this respect might generously be given as an excuse for his boxing in a style far different from that which he is said to employ usually. Instead of going in and rushing Ulman he was content to stand off and punish the air with hard blows. Ulman was just as well pleased to fail in taking advantage of openings and chances which occurred.
1898-06-03 Billy Stift L-DQ5 (Chicago, IL, USA)
1898-06-04 The Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL) (page 7)
"Billy" Stift, who had some ten pounds advantage over "Mysterious Billy" Smith showed up in splendid trim. Smith was armed with two porous plasters and had his right knee in bandages. As far as the fight progressed there was little to choose. The New-Yorker was fast and clever, but several times was landed on heavily by Stift. Stift in the first round fell from the force of a blow which he failed to land. Few blows were struck in the second, which was even. Warmer work marked the opening of the third, Stift taking the aggressive. After one minute and eighteen seconds of fighting Stift swung and fell. While he was down Smith swung a hard right on the jaw, knocking the North Sider to the canvas. Masterson, who was on the other side of the ring, at once gave the fight to Stift. It was a difficult decision, and the opinion of the spectators was divided as to whether Stift's knee was touching the canvas or not. Stift was not knocked out and would have been able to continue. Smith refused to shake hands with Stift.
1898-06-04 The Chicago Record (Chicago, IL) (page 6)
Billy Smith and Billy Stift of this city went through two slow rounds, feeling each other for future use. In the third round, which proved to be the last, Stift slipped down after having received a light left from Smith, and, while resting on his knee, Smith completely lost his head and deliberately swung a hard right-hander upon the point of the Chicagoan's jaw which completely keeled that boxer over. This time Mr. Masterson was on deck and rightfully decided against the New Yorker, who was almost insane at having the decision given against him.
1898-06-04 The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) (page 2)
The wind-up between Billy Stift of Chicago and "Mysterious" Billy Smith, Tommy Ryan's old and insistent foeman, was brought on shortly before 11 o'clock. Smith weighed about 160 pounds, the local man closely approximating 175 pounds. Stift appeared all tied up, and in the first round Smith succeeded in sending him in two short ones to the throat and wind, though no harm was done on either side. Stift landed on Smith's jaw in the second, Smith reciprocating in like fashion. They were in at close quarters when the round ended. There was a warm exchange in the third round, and Stift was forced to his knees as the result of some sharp blows to the body in a clinch. While in this position Smith swung his right full to the side of the prostrate Stift's head. It was not hard enough to knock as rugged a fighter as Stift out, but the local man saw a soft spot and some easy money, and rolled over on his back, simulating unconsciousness. It was clearly a foul, and Masterson, following up the healthy precedent established in the preceding engagement, gave the fight to Stift.
1895-02-12 Peter Maher EXH3 (Lynn, MA, USA)
1895-02-14 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA) (page 2)
Billy Smith boxed Maher three stiff rounds at Lynn Tuesday night. While it was not in the nature of a contest, both men showed up faster than they would in an exhibition bout. Smith impressed every one with his fine condition, improved quickness and general cleverness, and his stock as a winner against Walcott at Music Hall March 1 went up.
1895-02-14 The Boston Post (Boston, MA) (page 3)
The Boston delegation of sports who went to Lynn on Tuesday evening to see Billy Smith box are speaking in warm praise of the "mysterious one." Smith was to box Billy Hennessey, but as the latter was ill it was decided that he should box Peter Maher. Three stiff rounds were boxed and Smith gave the greatest satisfaction, and added some friends to his list who will back him against Joe Walcott.
The great surprise, however, was the grand showing made by Peter Maher. The Irish champion is today more capable than at any other period of his career. He feels confident that he will beat Jim Hall in their coming six-round contest.
1900-09-11 Young Peter Jackson W18 (Cleveland, OH, USA)
1898-10-07 Charlie McKeever W25 (New York, NY, USA)
1898-10-08 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 4)
"Mysterious Billy" Smith outpointed "Charlie" McKeever, of Philadelphia, in a twenty-five-round contest last night at the Lenox Athletic Club, thereby retaining the 142-pound championship, which he has successfully defended many times recently. His last encounter was with "Jim" Judge, at Scranton, Penn., last Monday, when he knocked Judge out a few seconds before the end of what was intended to be the last round.
Smith was fresh and strong last night, and McKeever also looked to be in good condition, and confident of holding his own. The man of mystery, however, proved his superiority in every round, and forced the issue from start to finish. The decision was favorably received by the spectators.
1898-10-08 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 4)
Mysterious Billy Smith demonstrated his right to hold the title of welter weight champion by defeating Charlie McKeever in their twenty-five round contest at the Lenox Athletic Club last evening. Both men showed great cleverness in blocking, but there was one blow that McKeever was unable to stop and that was Smith's right to the kidneys in the infighting, and it was this blow that did much to win the battle for Smith. When the men entered the ring there was a long delay, owing to McKeever's demand that Smith should remove the bandages which he wore on both hands. Smith finally agreed to remove those on his right hand and McKeever agreed to allow him to retain those on his left. This hand Smith was unable to use more than a few times during the bout and had it been well the fight would have been considerably shorter.
1898-10-08 The Morning Telegraph (New York, NY) (page 3)
The bout lasted the full twenty-five rounds scheduled. Smith was the aggressor, but McKeever showed himself to be a clever defensive fighter. Referee White's decision gave satisfaction.
1898-10-08 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 12)
The men fought cleverly throughout, but Smith in a majority of the rounds clearly had the better of the contest. In one round only did McKeever make a decided impression, and that was in the twenty-third, when he dazed the Bostonian with a right on the jaw. Smith scored a knock down in the twenty-fifth and final round, and thereby clinched his right to the winner's share of the purse.
1898-10-08 The New York Press (New York, NY) (page 5)
In the last ten rounds of the contest Smith's left hand practically was useless and in the last five rounds it dangled helplessly by his side. Notwithstanding this big handicap he whipped his man and earned the decision which was awarded to him by Charley White, the referee. This was a fight from start to finish. There was not a minute of it that was not filled with work that was both fast and clever. McKeever, like Smith, is a two handed fighter. Both are hard punchers, and each can take as well as give a blow. Smith's hands were not in good condition when he entered the ring, and when he landed his left on McKeever's head in the fifteenth round that hand went out of business. The only use he made of it after that was to feint with it, and from the twentieth to the twenty-fifth round he could not get this poor service out of it.
1898-10-08 The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY) (page 7)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith, the Boston pugilist, was given the decision in a twenty-five round fight last night with Charley McKeever, of Philadelphia, at the Lenox A. C. The spectators were not pleased with Referee White's verdict, but nevertheless it was probably a just one, as Smith was the aggressor throughout the fight. He injured his left hand before the contest had progressed far, but despite that he forced the fighting. In the twenty-third round McKeever landed heavily on Smith's jaw, making him groggy. He couldn't put the mysterious fighter out, however, and in the following two rounds Smith exhibited wonderful recuperative powers.
1898-10-08 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 9)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith of Boston received the decision of Referee White after a sensational twenty-five round glove fight with Charley McKeever of Philadelphia at the Lenox A. C. last night. Smith hurt his left hand early in the battle, but for the first dozen rounds he did the bulk of work. In the twenty-third round McKeever had Smith groggy from a punch on the jaw, but he could not finish the job and literally fought himself out. In the next two rounds the Boston man showed wonderful recuperative powers. McKeever was on the defensive during a majority of the rounds, and was fairly defeated. There was intense excitement during the last half dozen rounds, and the McKeever spectators did not like the referee's verdict. But it could not have been otherwise, after taking into consideration the constant offensive tactics of the Boston pugilist.
1898-10-08 The World (New York, NY) (page 8)
The fight was one of the best that has been seen in any of the clubs of Greater New York within a year.
There was science for those who like science, while those that love slugging and blood got plenty of both. The men were aggressive throughout. In one round Smith looked a winner, but in the next McKeever evened up matters. So it went until the end of the twenty-five rounds, and Referee White announced Smith the winner.
1899-06-30 Charlie McKeever D20 (New York, NY, USA)
1899-07-01 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 5)
Charles McKeever of Philadelphia showed to remarkable advantage with Mysterious Billy Smith at the Broadway Athletic Club last evening and his most ardent admirer, who had expected no more than that he would stay the limit, were greatly elated when he succeeded in making a draw. Smith's showing was disappointing on the whole and while he was the aggressor throughout the contest, and administered the most punishment, his face at the finish gave evidence of McKeever's cleverness. Smith did not fight in his old form, but tumbled in trouble in such a reckless manner that he left many openings of which the Philadelphian was not slow in taking advantage. Smith's best work was confined to McKeever's body, which he had very sore from right hand smashes. McKeever possessed the better left and proved a surprise to Smith on the infighting, returning blow for blow with Smith at that game. The men fought twenty rounds at catch weights and the referee's decision pleased the majority of the large crowd present.
1899-07-01 The Morning Telegraph (New York, NY) (page 1)
What was expected to prove a fierce encounter between "Mysterious" Billy Smith and Charlie McKeever at the Broadway Athletic Club last night turned out a rather tame affair. Billy Smith's usual ferocity was missing, and he showed little of his customary aggressiveness. This he attributed to his recent attack of sunstroke, and in proof of the same his seconds constantly applied large cakes of ice to his head. Occasionally the mysterious gentleman made a rush and hammered his man, but for the most part he contented himself with long range sparring.
Smith was quite quite willing to come to close quarters and settle the question in a mixup, but McKeever would have none of it, and hugged like a grizzly whenever they came together. Both men were cut over the left eye, which was the only mark.
McKeever continually directed his attacks to Smith's body, but failed to do any damage. On the other hand, McKeever's body was soon very red as a result of Smith's blows. Smith certainly landed the most effective blows, catching McKeever very hard on the mouth a number of times, but the latter's strength sustained him. McKeever shook Smith up in the nineteenth with a terrific thump on the neck with the left, but the New Yorker came back strong. Smith certainly was the aggressor throughout, and was willing to fight all the time, but McKeever's hugging tactics prevented. On points it looked as though Smith had an advantage, but Referee White could not see it in that light, for he called it a draw.
1899-07-01 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 11)
For the second time during their careers as pugilists "Mysterious Billy" Smith, of this city, and "Charley" McKeever, of Philadelphia, fought a twenty round draw at the Broadway Athletic Club last night. It was an interesting fight and many of the spectators thought McKeever should have been declared the winner, but the majority of the sports believed the ruling a just one and applauded "Johnny" White, the referee.
1899-07-01 The New York Press (New York, NY) (page 4)
While Smith was looked upon as the better man, his work showed that he has not recovered from the sunstroke, on account of which his match with Ryan had to be declared off. He met McKeever at catch weights, and the bout resulted in a draw. Smith was the lighter of the two. He showed to anything but good advantage, lacking his usual quickness, and failed to make as good a fight as was expected of him. McKeever, on the other hand, was a decided surprise, as he has improved wonderfully since the last time he met Smith in the ring. They agreed to box under strict Queensberry rules, and McKeever proved to be a tartar on in-fighting. While the Philadelphian was not so effective at close quarters, he certainly administered more punishment than Smith looked for. McKeever was fast and clever, landing his left frequently to the face; but Smith countered with left hooks to the neck and hard right wallops over the kidneys.
1899-07-01 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 11)
The men met at catch weights, and a decision of draw, rendered by Referee "Johnny" White, seemed satisfactory to the spectators. In leading McKeever was much better than Smith. At short-range fighting and in clinches his opponent landed two blows to his one.
1899-07-01 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 8)
Mysterious Billy Smith of Boston, who was overcome by the heat some time ago and was thereby incapacitated for meeting Tommy Ryan, indulged in a rather interesting twenty-round draw with Charley McKeever at the Broadway A. C. last night. Smith was not in his best form, and those who played McKeever believed that he had a slight advantage on points when the bout was over. The referee, John White, however rendered a just verdict, all things considered.
The men said they weighed 142 each, but they were undoubtedly heavier.
1899-07-01 The World (New York, NY) (page 3)
Charley McKeever, of Philadelphia, and Mysterious Billy Smith fought a twenty-round drawn battle in the Broadway Athletic Club arena last night, but it was not the exciting contest expected between two men of such high class.
Both were aggressive, but many thought McKeever had a slight shade the best of it. The men left the ring in good condition and no marks outside of a damaged eye each. The referee declared the bout a draw, which decision was received with mingled cheers, hoots and cat-calls.
1899-07-28 Jack Mahoney ND6 (Philadelphia, PA, USA)
1899-07-29 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 2)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith and "Young" Mahoney are supposed to know something about the game, but if they do it was carefully concealed from the spectators. True, they worked, but it was not that which is looked for from men of such caliber. Smith introduced a new punch that toyed with the spot where brights disease is suppose to locate, and that was about all he did. His wild swings were cleverly avoided, and Mahoney contended himself with using his left straight for the face. Honors were about even, each being worse than the other.
1899-07-29 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 4)
The boxing game in this city was reopened at Industrial Hall last night in the presence of the most exclusive followers of the art of hit, stop and get away. Nobody but the most exclusive would have thought of turning out with the thermometer cavorting around the melting mark. The wind-up was between Mysterious Billy Smith and Young Mahoney, and as was to be expected, it went the limit. Mahoney, always a clever defensive fighter, resorted to every known Fabian trick to stay the limit, and stay the limit he did, although this morning he is doubtless nursing a beautiful pair of enlarged kidneys. Smith, under the direction of Charley McKeever, started in to rush things from the sound of the gong. He never came within a foot of the danger spot, but in all the clinches--and nearly all the leads resulted in clinches--he banged a merry tattoo on Mahoney's back right near the basement line. Mahoney stood this pounding all right for the first two rounds, but in the last four he gave evidence of being hurt by trying to bring his right glove behind him to soften the fall of Smith's hard punches. Smith never once transgressed the rules, but some of the more unthinking of the crowd hissed when he hit in the clinches. As a matter of fact, this was unavoidable for the reason that Mahoney clinched whenever opportunity offered, and on more than one occasion made the opportunity. Mahoney confined himself to occasional straight left leads, which had no perceptible effect upon Smith, and now and then got in a counter. These efforts were the more pyrotechnic, and consequently did more to enthuse the crowd than did the heavy body punches which Smith got in.
1899-07-29 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)
John Mahoney and "Mysterious Billy" Smith met in a six-round boxing contest at Industrial Hall last night. Although Mahoney outpointed Smith, the latter's blows did more damage, and, as they were all directed at one spot, the left kidney, Mahoney is likely to feel the effects for some time. There was a fair-sized crowd present, but the extreme heat made it unpleasant, both for the spectators and principals. The crowd did not take kindly to Smith's tactics--hitting with one hand free--and several times grew quite noisy. Referee Crowdhurst stopped the first round about half a minute before the close of the round on account of the disorder, and announced that unless the spectators kept better order the bout would be stopped. After that there was but little trouble. Mahoney landed more clean blows than Smith, but they seemed to be very light and had little effect. He paid all his attention to Smith's head, while the latter worked for the body entirely. Mahoney when on the defensive assumed a crouching attitude, which made it difficult for Smith to land. Toward the close of the first round Smith rushed Mahoney through the ropes, and, holding him off, sent in a shower of blows. The crowd did not like this sort of boxing and hissed Smith, whereupon the referee sent the men to their corners.
Mahoney did some clever work in the second, landing left and right on Smith's face a number of times without a return. Smith's failure to land on Mahoney seemed to anger him, and when they came to a clinch Billy would chop down on Mahoney's kidneys as hard as he could drive. In the third Mahoney landed a hard right-hand swing on Smith's left eye, but Smith came back with a heavy right on the wind. Mahoney landed at least a half-dozen light blows in succession without a return in this round, and Smith, as usual, waited until Mahoney clinched and then got back at him with heavy blows on the kidneys. The spot was getting very red, and Mahoney evidently was feeling the effects of the blows, as he tried to protect the spot as much as possible after the third rond. On the whole, the bout was unsatisfactory from the spectators' point of view.
1899-09-29 Billy Stift D6 (Chicago, IL, USA)
1899-09-30 The Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL) (page 6)
Mysterious Billy Smith of Boston and Billy Stift of Chicago fought six rounds to a draw at the Star Theater last night. The bout was one of the tamest seen in Chicago for a long time and the majority of the crowd went away convinced that the result was prearranged. Only once in the six rounds did there seem any semblance of earnestness. This was in the beginning of the sixth, when Smith, after landing a light left on the jaw, swung his right across to the point of the jaw and staggered the North-Sider. Smith's forte is infighting, but he insisted on a clean break. His left leads were almost invariably short, and Stift blocked nine out of ten so easily it appeared as if the men were boxing by signal. Stift, on the other hand, did not make one of his customary windmill swings until the last round. In the clinches the men frequently whispered to each other as if apologizing or giving further instructions. It did not take the crowd long to size up the situation and before the first round was over the fighters were urged to get together. As the tame work continued the crowd grew more demonstrative and the sound of the gong at the end of the second round was the signal for a wave of discontent. A rather hot exchange of body blows in the fourth round led to an exchange of whispers, and the crowd exhorted them to quit talking and fight. Smith found his opponent's back unprotected in the fifth round, and landed a hard slap on the middle of it. The intent was palpable, and a derisive shout filled the theater. By the end of the fifth round there was a general shout for everybody to leave, and numbers filed out.
Stift had done most of the leading in the first five rounds, but Smith weakened up in the first part of the sixth, and Referee Hogan announced a draw.
1899-09-30 The Chicago Record (Chicago, IL) (page 6)
For some unknown reason "Mysterious Billy" Smith refused to fight Billy Stift for five rounds in their six-round contest at the Star theater last night. Until the last round Stift had done all the fighting, which, by the way, was not very much, while Smith had paid strict attention to getting out of the way of his opponent. In the sixth and last round Smith fought fast enough to get a draw from Referee Hogan amid cat calls and cries of "fake" from the crowd.
1899-09-30 The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) (page 8)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith and Billy Stift fought six rather tame rounds at a North Side club last night, Referee Malachy Hogan calling the contest a draw. Referee Hogan finally got the men into the center of the ring, and a few seconds later the bout began. Stift was the aggressor from the start, and his friends were surprised at the cool manner in which he went at Smith, and the fact that most of his blows were straight-arm ones and not the wild swings with which he generally favors the spectators. The fight was anything but interesting, and cries of "Fake!" "Take them off!" etc., could be heard on all sides. Little or no work was done and the crowd began to leave the building.
This is an official program from the Mysterious Billy Smith-Tommy Ryan fight on May 27th, 1895, at the Seaside Athletic Club at Coney Island, New York. Mysterious Billy Smith and Tommy Ryan fought the welterweight title in a scheduled 25 round match. Matched at 142 pounds. Ryan was down in the 10th round and saved by the bell rung at the end of the first minute of the 11th round. Stopped when the police intervened, with Smith hanging helpless on the ropes. The fight was declared a draw.
This is a program the Mysterious Billy Smith-Charles "Kid" McCoy fight on May 18th, 1896 at the Newtown Street Armory in Boston, Massachusetts. McCoy won when Smith was disqualified by referee Bill Daly in the 6th round. Smith fouled on a break.
One last article about Mysterious Billy Smith, I can't get enough of this stuff.
Was mysterious Billy Smith Birmingham's first World Boxing Champion
Boxing historian unearths a nugget which suggests a Brummie beat Kal Yafai to super-flyweight superstardom - by 124 years.
By: Mike Lockley
Ron Wells, 89 from Northfield, who's a Boxing Historian looking into the Mysterious Billy Smith who was Birmingham first World Boxing Champion.
While fight fans celebrate Birmingham’s first world champ in super-flyweight superstar Kal Yafai, one boxing historian has unearthed a nugget which suggests a Brummie beat him to it – by 124 years.
The record books will tell you mean, marauding Mysterious Billy Smith – a brawler dubbed the dirtiest fighter ever – was born on May 15, 1871, in Nova Scotia, Canada. The scarred hardman, blessed with a pitbull’s eye for tact and diplomacy, went on to become the first world welterweight champ during a brutal, 80-fight career (32 wins, 26 draws).
Smith, a man infected and cursed by violence, indulged in many more saloon punch-ups and was shot three times. In the Wild West, there were few wilder than Mysterious Billy Smith.
The only mystery appears to be how Smith, who thrived on intimidation and menace, didn’t become a fatal victim of the same brutality he doled out on a regular basis.
Now Birmingham’s Ron Wells – his home a treasure trove of ancient fight books, mags and newspapers – has discovered documents revealing Smith was born in our city.
In a January 26, 1938, edition of “Boxing”, ex-pug Jim Kenrick, a bantamweight who twice faced world title claimant Johnny Coulon in 1910, wrote of the controversial champ’s Birmingham roots.
Kenrick’s article was reproduced in the Black Country Bugle 14 years ago.
Smith’s real Christian name, Amos, was certainly popular in the West Midlands’ industrial hub, yet rare in Canada. The fighter hated it and would answer back with his fists if any individual dared to address him as Amos.
Kenrick wrote: “Amos Smith was born in Birmingham on May 15, 1871. The older Smith [his father] found it hard to make a living in their native Birmingham, so decided to try their luck in the States.
“In 1876, the family touched down in Pennsylvania. From there, they emigrated to Maine and it was in that town that young Amos spent his teens. It was a tough spot in those days and the youngster soon established himself as a tough ‘un.
“His rough and ready style of fighting made him the cock of the walk among the lads of the town.”
In the tough, mobster-run docklands of the East Coast port, brooding Smith soon established himself as a man best not crossed.
Article continues below
If Wells’ evidence is correct – and I have my doubts – Birmingham can lay claim to the meanest fighter the game has ever seen. Smith made Mike Tyson look like a member of Bucks Fizz.
We can also lay claim to an athlete who forged ring history. When Smith was at his pomp, there were no weight divisions between lightweight (nine-and-a-half stone) and middleweight (11-and-a-half).
Regulators rightly decided a 10-and-a-half-stone category was required – and Smith became the first welterweight champ on December 14, 1892, by starching Danny Needham in 14 rounds at the Wigwam Theatre, San Francisco. His purse for that victory was 2,000 dollars – a fortune.
Billy Smith who was Birmingham first World Boxing Champion.
Billy Smith who was Birmingham first World Boxing Champion.(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Smith gained universal recognition four months later by destroying Australia’s Tom Williams in two rounds. That earned him the staggering sum of 4,500 dollars, a Cristiano Ronaldo-sized wage packet by today’s standards.
He lost the title to Tommy Ryan after 20 hard rounds on July 26, 1894.
In 2003, fellow historian Ron Jackson described the pugilist as “one of the roughest, toughest welterweights that ever lived. A fighter in the true sense, he was described as unscrupulous and savage”. Smith took dockland violence into the ring with him. Even by the barbaric standards of the day, his 1895 Massachusetts bout with legend Barbados Joe Walcott – not to be confused with 1950s’ heavyweight Jersey Joe Walcott – was X-rated.
Jackson wrote: “Smith abused Walcott verbally, butted him repeatedly, wrestled and even shoved an elbow into his eye. The referee did not step in and the bout became even dirtier. Smith actually bit Walcott on the head and the fight ended in a draw.”
It was one of many times Smith bent the rules to accommodate his street-fighting techniques. Following his wife’s death, Smith began to drink heavily and fought as if he should have been wielding an empty bottle.
His July, 1896, showdown with Billy Gallagher, an appalling spectacle punctuated by biting, butting and kicking, could have taken place in a bar.
It was carnage, with a report stating: “Within one minute the dirty stuff commenced.
“When Gallagher clinched, Smith used a hip throw to shake him off. Instead of walking around his opponent, he stepped on his head. Smith said later he had not meant to hurt Gallagher; it was meant as a warning.
“However, when an enraged Gallagher came at him, Smith repeated the hip throw and stepped on his opponent’s face again. The police captain on duty said he would not tolerate such tactics and the referee declared the fight a draw.
“This was not the end of it. When the fighters went to fetch their money for the fight a few days later, they met at the promoter’s saloon and resumed the brawl.
“Smith put Gallagher down with a punch to the head and put the boot in. Then he tried to chew his ear off. Only when someone threw hot water on them, the fighters broke up.”
Worse was to follow. In his next fight, Smith was disqualified for knocking out Jim Ryan while his opponent was on the canvas. Enraged by the decision, he then punched the ref’s lights out.
According to Kenrick’s article, Smith, his reputation soiled in America, returned to Birmingham. He wrote: “After losing the title to Tommy Ryan, Smith decided to visit the land of his birth.
“He took a trip to his native England where, on February 5, 1896, he encountered Dido Plumb at the National Sporting Club. Billy’s non-stop fighting was too much for Dido who was well beaten in three rounds.
“Smith went back to the States because no-one here wanted his company in the ring.”
That’s hardly surprising. In a country where sportmanship was considered paramount, patrons were appalled by Smith’s win-at-all-costs tactics. He retired in 1911, having reclaimed the world title and notched up ten losses by disqualification.
Smith, who ran a Portland, Oregon, saloon, may have walked away from boxing, but not trouble. He was gunned down by a ship’s captain while walking Third Street and engaged in numerous pub battles.
He died from uremia on October 15, 1937 – probably cursing, biting and butting the very medics tasked with saving him.
Much of his career is shrouded in mystery. Now Wells has uncovered the biggest mystery of all: Was Billy Smith a Brummie? “It’s a talking point, at the very least,” said Ron.
Mysterious Billy Smith may have been bad to the bone, but he was one of ours.
Comments
Another thing, Muhammad Ali was smart, he had a very good sense and awareness of what goes into the making of a great photo, an epic photo. He made sure that Simon had the camera ready at certain times, like this image of Ali pouring the sweat out of his shirt after jogging five miles in heavy boots.
Another great Simon photo of Ali resting on the pile of logs.
Good shot of Ali sitting on the logs with the kid.
Muhammad Ali in his Rolls Royce
Ali with the mustache working out.
The Ali fist.
Ali talking with the kids.
Ali reading "The Ring" magazine at Fighter's Heaven in 1970.
Ali "The Ring" magazine covers on the wall at Fighter's Heaven.
Ali flexing.
Ali chopping wood outside the cabin at Fighter's Heaven, the look on his face is priceless.
Ali lacing up his boots.
Taping the hands.
Ali sparring in preparation for his second fight with Frazier.
Ali was larger than life, one of the most famous people on this planet, when he walked into a room every set of eyes in the room were immediately on him, he had that kind of presence. But he was just a normal person, like everybody else, and he loved to joke around with people. This is one of my favorite photos of Ali at Deer Lake, the expression on his face reminds me of my days in high school, shooting the breeze with my friends.
Another great image of Ali at Deer Lake.
Epic images of Ali showing off his skills.
Ali rocking the mustache skipping rope.
Muhammad Ali with his twin daughters at Deer Lake in 1978.
I think this photo was taken on the same day as the photo above, cool stuff.
A few more photos and I'll wrap it up on Ali at Deer Lake, I've really enjoyed posting these photos, Fighter's Heaven was a beautiful place. Great shot of Ali with the mustache in a fight pose.
Ali posing without the stache.
Ali training for Norton in August of 1973.
Ali sparring in preparation for Norton.
Ok, I guess I'll go ahead and wrap it up with Ali at Fighter's Heaven in Deer Lake. It's been one heck of a ride and I've enjoyed it.
"Laziness is the biggest enemy we have."
Joe Louis getting a haircut before his fight with Jack Sharkey in 1936.
Sugar Ray Robinson with the Harlem Globetrotters in Paris, France, on May 28th, 1951.
Lightweight champion Roberto Duran ears ice cream during a visit to New York City in the 1970s.
Middleweight champion Carl "Bobo" Olson eating an ice cream sundae at his training camp in Asbury Park in 1955.
Muhammad Ali eating ice cream.
Best ice cream I've ever tasted in my life. The chunks of brownie from Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York, are what really make it delicious.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. surrounded by his bodyguards while shopping in London, England, in 2016. Awesome photo.
24-year-old world lightweight champion Ike Williams had a close call against Kid Gavilan, speedy 22-year-old Cuban, in their ten-round non-title fight at Madison Square Garden on this day in 1948. The 135-pound king received a unanimous decision, but to the majority in the crowd of 14,907 the verdict was not a popular one.
The Associated Press reported: "Lightweight champion Ike Williams barely got past Kid Gavilan in a close fight last night at MSG. Cool and efficient, Ike, at 136 1/2, looked his best last night. The champ from Trenton, NJ, time and again picked off Gavilan's leaping left hooks on his gloves and arms. Bobbing and weaving, he nullified the rushing style of the Cuban, who had a five-pound weight pull. Williams jabbed the Kid's left eye closed with his stinging left. With seconds to go in the 8th he landed a crushing right cross to the jaw that dropped the Cuban. The bell rang at the count of eight. Gavilan fought a daring, game battle with his eye a mere slit."
Many sources report this as the first knockdown of iron-chinned Gavilan's career.
Old school Hardee's, the way it was when I was a kid. Cinnamon raisin biscuits for breakfast, roast beef sandwiches, peach milkshakes, fried chicken with the fixins', place was the jam. Sucks now, just a watered down version of Carl's Jr.
Mysterious Billy Smith, two-time welterweight champion in the 1890s, one of the dirtiest fighters in boxing history, maybe THE dirtiest.
Born Amos M. Smith on May 15, 1871 in Little River, Nova Scotia, Canada. Adopted the name “Billy” before turning professional in 1890. He acquired his nickname when a newspaper reporter questioned, “Who is this mysterious Billy Smith?”
Standing 5' 8 ½”, Smith was a talented two-fisted battler with quick hands who entered the ring ready to wage war. He often displayed a blatant disregard for the rules, resorting to a variety of foul tactics including but not limited to elbows, butts, knees and sometimes even biting. His tactics earned him the label as “The Dirtiest Fighter Who Ever Lived.” Smith won the world welterweight title in 1892 from Danny Needham (KO 14) and lost it to seven-time rival Tommy Ryan two years later (L 20). He regained the strap in 1898 from Matty Matthews (W 25) and reigned for two years before dropping the title back to Matthews in 1900 (KO by 19).
Smith continued to box until 1915 and during his career scored wins over Young Peter Jackson, Young Corbett and Hall of Famers “Barbados” Joe Walcott and George “Kid” Lavigne.
“Mysterious” Billy died at the age of 66 on October 15, 1937 in Portland, Oregon, where he ran a saloon called “The Champion's Rest.”
A great article about Mysterious Billy Smith.
St. Croix Historical Society
The Mysterious Billy Smith
Posted on July 12, 2022
By: John "Al" Churchill
In A Look Back at 1940, we mentioned a boxer named the “Mysterious Billy Smith”, a champion welterweight in the late 1800s and early 1900s who is described in boxing articles and fight reports of that era as the “Pride of Eastport”. We were surprised to learn Eastport had produced such a terrific fighter, a welterweight champion no less.
The newspaper accounts of the era say Billy was born in Eastport on May 15, 1871 but when we checked his biography in Wikipedia we found that while Wiki confirms Mysterious Billy was born on that date, Wikipedia says he was born in Little River Nova Scotia not Eastport. In fact, the Wikipedia article on Mysterious Billy Smith never mentions Eastport, so we became skeptical about “The Pride of Eastport” especially after further research confirmed he was indeed born in Nova Scotia. Nonetheless we kept digging and believe Eastport has every right to claim him as their own. Billy certainly claimed Eastport as his home town.
The confusion over Billy’s antecedents may have arisen because his father was in itinerant fisherman whose children with his wife Adelia were born in several fishing ports on the Bays of Fundy and Passamaquoddy. His older brother Thomas was born in Eastport and his mother died in 1902 in Maine, probably in Eastport. Other siblings were born in Tiverton, Nova Scotia.
We were convinced of Billy’s Eastport connection by Billy himself who granted a reporter a rare interview in 1923 when his stepson launched a boxing career fighting under the name “Mysterious Billy Smith, Jr. In the interview Billy Sr. described his early days as a boxer:
“I always hoped the kid wouldn’t be a boxer but he said what’s good enough for the old man is good enough for him. He wants to box and I know what that means. That’s the reason I’m going to let him. I wanted to fight back in Eastport, Me but my good old folks would have soon seen me a burglar as a boxer. In fact they thought both those were the same thing and they are in some cases but not Mysterious Billy’s. I didn’t take my right name but scrapped under the name of Rogers.”
Billy was also asked during the interview how “Mysterious” had become attached to his name. Smith explained:
I got the moniker “Mysterious Billy” from having fought under an assumed name. When I appeared in New York two or three years afterwards, I went under my right name of Smith. People had heard of Rogers, but nobody knew nothing of Smith, so a sportswriter dubbed me “Mysterious Billy.” Not a bad name at that- the kid thinks it’s good enough for him to start under.”
Billy Smith wins the welterweight championship over Danny Needham
Billy left his Eastport home at 16 after, according to articles in the national press, he had learned the rudiments of boxing on the Eastport docks. He moved to St. John N.B. where he trained to become a professional boxer. His first recorded professional fight was in St. John on December 1, 1890 but he soon relocated to the west coast of the U.S. where he was unknown. He established himself as a hard nose, skillful and somewhat dirty brawler and on December 14, 1892 in San Francisco he claimed the welterweight championship by knockout over Danny Needham. He defended his title in several fight on the East Coast after moving back to Boston in 1893. Many of these epic battles were against Tommy Ryan whom first Billy fought to a draw on August 29, 1893 at Coney Island.
The Buffalo Enquirer of August 30, 1893 acknowledged Billy’s talent but disagreed with the decision which, because it was a draw, allowed Smith to retain his title:
Smith, who is universally conceded the best 140 lb. man living and who is the world’s welterweight champion and a most terrific and brutal fighter met his match and though the decision was declared a draw Ryan had the better of the Boston man.
Smith fought Tony Ryan in several legendary bouts
On July 25, 1894 he lost the welterweight title to Ryan and in 1895, while attempting to regain the title against Ryan, he was saved from a Ryan onslaught by the police who, in the early days of prizefighting, often intervened in bouts if a fighter’s life was in danger. On this occasion the fighters had agreed before the fight that the police could intervene if one of the fighters was in danger of serious injury and refused to quit. Mysterious Billy Smith was hanging nearly senseless on the ropes when the police separated the boxers. Even without a prior agreement the referee or the crowd would sometimes demand the police intervene to stop a fight. Boxing was a brutal sport and no one was tougher and more brutal than Mysterious Billy Smith who never gave up even when beaten.
April 1900 Billy loses the championship
Billy soon regained his title and held it for almost two years before losing it again on April 17, 1900. He was never again a contender for the title although he continued boxing for many years, his last fight being in 1915. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1935 Smith was ranked the third best welterweight to ever step into the ring behind only Joe Walcott and Mickey Walker.
On his 46th birthday in 1917 many newspapers carried this article:
NATAL DAY OF EX – CHAMPION MYSTERIOUS BILLY SMITH (46 Years Old Today)
Born May 15, 1871, at Eastport, Maine
Mysterious Billy Smith, welterweight title holder from 1898 to 1900, was one of the best ring generals in the boxing game in his days. Smith started boxing in 1890 and in 1892, the title being in abeyance, he claimed the same by virtue of his defeats of the leading welterweight contenders. Towards the close of that year he defeated Danny Needham in 14 rounds for the title and a $2,000 side bet. The following year he fought a six – round draw with Tommy Ryan and in 1894 lost the title, being defeated by Ryan in 20 rounds. In 1895 he fought draws, with Joe Wolcott and Ryan and then engaged in a three – round exhibition bout with Peter Maher. In 1896 he lost to Kid McCoy in six rounds, and in 1897, after knocking out Mike Dempsey in two rounds, he again lost to McCoy. That same year he suffered a knockout by George Green in the 12th round. McCoy and Ryan then entered the middleweight ranks and Smith claimed the title, defending it in in a bout with Matty Matthews, held at New York. Smith won the bout after 25 rounds of fighting. He then fought a 20 – round draw with Tommy West and won a 20 – round bout from Joe Wolcott. In 1900 he lost the championship to Rube Ferns, having fouled the latter in the 21st round of their bout. He was later knocked out by Matthews and then lost bouts on fouls to Jimmy Handler and Joe Wolcott. In 1903, after losing to Wolcott in four rounds, he retired from the ring game.
For such a tough and skilled fighter Billy did lose a lot of bouts but 12 of those losses were by disqualification, the most ever by a professional boxer. During one of his six bouts with the legendary Joe Walcott, he bit Joe’s bald head while the boxers were in a clinch. After the fight Walcott told his manager ” Boss, I ain’t going to fight this man no more, he’s a cannibal.”
In 1929 article titled Joe Walcott, The Best in Ring History the sportswriter says this about Mysterious Billy Smith
My recollection goes back to Mysterious Billy Smith, who was a wiry, rugged fellow born in Eastport. Maine, who could box like a streak and had a fondness for slipping in tricks peculiarly his own. Smith would fight anybody. He fought Tommy Ryan seven times, and took on Joe Walcott, the Giant Killer, no less than six. Joe Walcott was one of the best welterweights, and one of the toughest, in all ring history. Both won from other- sometimes Smith won and sometimes Walcott won.
It is said that Mysterious Billy Smith was the only fighter Walcott feared. He knew he could beat Billy but he dreaded the punishment he would take in doing so.
After losing the title Billy returned to the west coast and lived in San Francisco and Portland Oregon where he had operated a sailor’s home and bar for many years. He was widely respected by many in the Portland community, especially by those who frequented the rougher parts of town.
In December 1911 the San Francisco Chronicle reported “Mysterious Billy Smith Shot and Fatally Hurt” which turned out to be an exaggeration. Smith recovered from four gunshot wounds inflicted by his ex-wife’s new husband, a steamboat Captain named Loomis. Billy pulled through although it seemed unlikely he could survive. He told a Portland reporter he didn’t care if Loomis was punished for shooting him but he would like his wife back.
A newspaper article in 1919 describes the robbery of a Portland pool room where Billy was present. The robbers lined all the patrons except Billy against the wall and took all their possessions. According to the newspaper account, “All that was taken from “Mysterious Billy Smith”, ex-prize fighter, was a statement regarding his health.”
Mysterious Billy Smith died in Portland Oregon in 1937.
mysterious billy smith
As late as 1944 boxing aficionados and writers were extolling the reputation of “Mysterious Billy Smith”. As Eastport loves its festivals perhaps a “Mysterious Billy Smith” festival can be slotted in between the 4th and the Salmon and Pirate Festivals.
Footnote: His son, “Mysterious Billy Smith, Jr.” had a short boxing career. He was actually Billy’s stepson but did have some talent. While attending Dartmouth College he was captain of the boxing team and was New England amateur champion in the 147 lb. division. After graduation he won a number of bouts on both the east and the west coasts but in 1929 retired from boxing and became a teacher. He was quoted as saying “Fighting is a lot easier than teaching.”
A clipping about Mysterious Billy Smith from a 1994 issue of Yankee magazine.
Shot four times, four bullets couldn't take him out, Smith was one tough SOB.
These are written newspaper accounts of some Mysterious Billy Smith's, he was one rough customer but also a clever fighter. Fascinating stuff.
Credit: boxing forum 24
Mysterious Billy Smith is known for being one of the dirtiest fighters who ever lived, which as far as known, a record number of disqualifications. What people generally don't seem to know is his actual achievements in the ring, or his ability. Nat Fleischer ranked his as the 2nd greatest Welterweight of all time in 1972, behind Joe Walcott. Tommy Ryan said of him "Billy Smith, some called him "Mysterious" certainly was a clever fighter. He was clever, and could hit with either hand, though I should say that his right was a bit the more powerful."
Smith's first known match was in 1890, however his first notable bouts weren't until 1892. The first of these was a 10 round draw with Tommy West. Smith then KOed Billy (Shadow) Maber in the 26th round, and claim the Welterweight Championship of the World. Smith defended his claim with a 14th round KO of Danny Needham, this was no mean feat, Tommy Ryan had fought Needham for 76 rounds, for his claim to the Welterweight crown. In 1893 Smith further backed up his claim with a 2nd round KO of the British Empire Welterweight Champion Tom Williams, as well as winning a 6 round decision over challenger of Jack Dempsey, and former Australian Middleweight Champion Billy M'Carty. In 1894 Smith lost his claim in a match with fellow Welterweight title claiment Tommy Ryan in a 20 round decision. Ryan himself spoke of the hard fought nature of this win noting:
"There was action in every round and was a case of give and take. The pace was furious and each brought Into play every trick of boxing and generalship known at that time. In the seventeenth round. Smith swung a vicious right for my chin. I saw it coming, but not in time to get entirely clear. I swung up my hand and the blow hit me on the throat I am not well posted on medical terms, but I will try and make myself clear to the average reader. For a moment after the blow landed, I seemed to choke. There was a feeling as if the walls of my "Adam's apple" had been caved in."
In 1895 Smith fought a 3 round no decision with Peter Maher, and fought a 15 round draw with Joe Walcott. There were calls for the Walcott fight to go to the finish, but it didn't happen, it appears Walcott won the majority of the rounds, but Smith floored him in the 6th, and won the last two rounds. Smith fought a rematch with champion Tommy Ryan, but was less successful, with police intervening with him helplesson the ropes. Smith also fought draws (exhibitions?) with Dick O'Brien and Jack Powers
In 1896 in the UK Smith beat three opponents in 3 rounds in one night, before facing Bill Husbands, and scoring an 8th round TKO. Smith was then DQ'd against Kid McCoy in round 6, and then was DQ'din the 7th and 9th rounds against Australian Jim Ryan, and Tommy Ryan
In 1897, with Tommy Ryan moving to middlweight, Smith fought Young Corbett (George Green) for the new Welterweight Championship, Smith quit after the 11th arm having had the worse of it, and claiming he broke his arm in the 4th.
Smith started 1898 withsome minor opponents, and another DQ, for hitting an opponent while they were on one knee. Smith then fought a 25 round draw with Joe Walcott. The same year he would avange his loss to Young Corbett with a 25 round decision, and the next month defeat William "Matty" Matthews to claim the Welterweight Crown himself. He fought a 25 rounder with Andy Walsh, in which according to a newspaper he deserved the win, but the bout was declared a draw. He then beat Charlie McKeever over 25 rounds in dominant fashion. He then fought a 20 round catchweight bout with Tommy West, he conceded 20 pounds, and had the worst of it due to West's skills, however it seems to have been an arranged draw. He would then defeat Joe Walcott with a 20 round decision, his won this fight clearly, though Walcott was described as not at his best.
In 1899 he scored a 14th round KO over Australian Billy Edwards, who had recently been the British and South African Middleweight champion, and another 14th round KO over Lightweight champion Kid Lavigne. That year he also fought a 20 round decision against Charlie McKeever, despite previously beating him, in a seeming underperformance, however he would fight another 20 round match with him later that year, this time taking over in the latter half to win descively.
In 1900 Smith fought Rube Ferns, in a bout scheduled for 25, Smith knocked down Fearns 15 times before being DQ'd in the 21st round. Smith seems to have kept his title, and defended it with a 22nd round KO of Frank McConnell, before losing his title claim to William "Matty" Matthews being stopped in the 19th round. That year he also scored a 18th round stoppage over Young Peter Jackson, who would go on to score a KO over the legendary Sam Langford. Smith's fight with Young Peter Jackson was competitive early on, but Smith wore him down with solid body shots took over in after the 10th round, he also worked an old cut, and so the police stopped it after the 18th due the the amount of blood.
The late, great AJ Liebling quoted Doc Kearns (who fought Billy Smith) on him:
“He was always doing something mysterious. Like he would step on your foot, and when you looked down he would bite you in the ear. If I had a fighter like that nowadays, I could lick heavyweights. But we are living in a bad period all around.”
1894-11-19 Jack Powers ND6 (Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada)
1894-11-20 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) (page 1)
St. John, N. B., Nov. 19.--A big crowd saw the six-round fight to-night between Jack Power of this city and "Mysterious" Billy Smith. The conditions of the match required a knock-out in order to obtain a decision. At the end of the sixth round both men were fighting hard and both in condition. No decision was rendered.
1897-05-29 Abe Ullman W20 (New York, NY, USA)
1897-05-30 Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY) (page 15)
New York, May 29.--Mysterious Billy Smith, of Boston, bested Abe Ullman, of Baltimore, in a twenty-round bout in the Polo A. C. to-night in the presence of 3,000 men. They fought at catch weights. Smith's handlers said he weighed 148, but he looked heavier. Ullman turned the scales at 157 pounds. They put up an interesting fight. Smith forced the going in nearly every round and clearly outpointed Ullman. Both men fought foul at times, but as both were to blame nothing was done by the referee. To give Smith his due he was never seen to better advantage in this city and fought remarkably fair considering the provocation he got from Ullman. Referee Frank Abraham's decision pleased the majority of those who saw the bout.
1897-08-23 Jack Powers D8 (Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada)
1897-08-24 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) (page 1)
St. John, N. B., Aug. 23.--The boxing exhibition to-night in the Mechanics Institute was attended by about 1,000 people. The event of the night was the eight-round go between "Mysterious Billy Smith" and Jack Power of this city. From the third round Smith forced the fighting to the finish, but the bout was declared a draw.
1898-02-18 Abe Ullman ND8 (Baltimore, MD, USA)
1898-02-19 Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD) (page 9)
The bout was scheduled for eight rounds, and went the limit. At the end both men were fresh, and neither had obtained any advantage. The decision would clearly have been a draw. Both men fought a very clean, scientific battle, extremely creditable. Smith is much the harder hitter, and understands more about the game than Ullman, but the latter's reach and extra weight helped to make up the difference. Ullman has improved very much since his last appearance, and can now give the best of them a hard race.
The rounds were fought through very evenly, Smith doing most of the leading. No effective blows were landed by either man, though some sharp exchanges were had, particularly in the first and last rounds. The fine foot work and the scientific defense were evidently overlooked by some of the crowd of spectators, who, in their thirst for gore, called for more fight.
1898-02-19 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 6)
The star bout between Abe Ulman, of Baltimore, and "Mysterious Billy" Smith, of Boston, at catch-weights, was not so favorably received.
The contest was set for eight rounds, and it not only went the limit, but could have gone an unlimited number of rounds in so far as hurt was inflicted. Smith came heralded as a rough, foul fighter, but stated that he would demonstrate the fact that he was a clean, square performer in the ring. He demonstrated this, and his being on his merits in this respect might generously be given as an excuse for his boxing in a style far different from that which he is said to employ usually. Instead of going in and rushing Ulman he was content to stand off and punish the air with hard blows. Ulman was just as well pleased to fail in taking advantage of openings and chances which occurred.
1898-06-03 Billy Stift L-DQ5 (Chicago, IL, USA)
1898-06-04 The Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL) (page 7)
"Billy" Stift, who had some ten pounds advantage over "Mysterious Billy" Smith showed up in splendid trim. Smith was armed with two porous plasters and had his right knee in bandages. As far as the fight progressed there was little to choose. The New-Yorker was fast and clever, but several times was landed on heavily by Stift. Stift in the first round fell from the force of a blow which he failed to land. Few blows were struck in the second, which was even. Warmer work marked the opening of the third, Stift taking the aggressive. After one minute and eighteen seconds of fighting Stift swung and fell. While he was down Smith swung a hard right on the jaw, knocking the North Sider to the canvas. Masterson, who was on the other side of the ring, at once gave the fight to Stift. It was a difficult decision, and the opinion of the spectators was divided as to whether Stift's knee was touching the canvas or not. Stift was not knocked out and would have been able to continue. Smith refused to shake hands with Stift.
1898-06-04 The Chicago Record (Chicago, IL) (page 6)
Billy Smith and Billy Stift of this city went through two slow rounds, feeling each other for future use. In the third round, which proved to be the last, Stift slipped down after having received a light left from Smith, and, while resting on his knee, Smith completely lost his head and deliberately swung a hard right-hander upon the point of the Chicagoan's jaw which completely keeled that boxer over. This time Mr. Masterson was on deck and rightfully decided against the New Yorker, who was almost insane at having the decision given against him.
1898-06-04 The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) (page 2)
The wind-up between Billy Stift of Chicago and "Mysterious" Billy Smith, Tommy Ryan's old and insistent foeman, was brought on shortly before 11 o'clock. Smith weighed about 160 pounds, the local man closely approximating 175 pounds. Stift appeared all tied up, and in the first round Smith succeeded in sending him in two short ones to the throat and wind, though no harm was done on either side. Stift landed on Smith's jaw in the second, Smith reciprocating in like fashion. They were in at close quarters when the round ended. There was a warm exchange in the third round, and Stift was forced to his knees as the result of some sharp blows to the body in a clinch. While in this position Smith swung his right full to the side of the prostrate Stift's head. It was not hard enough to knock as rugged a fighter as Stift out, but the local man saw a soft spot and some easy money, and rolled over on his back, simulating unconsciousness. It was clearly a foul, and Masterson, following up the healthy precedent established in the preceding engagement, gave the fight to Stift.
1895-02-12 Peter Maher EXH3 (Lynn, MA, USA)
1895-02-14 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA) (page 2)
Billy Smith boxed Maher three stiff rounds at Lynn Tuesday night. While it was not in the nature of a contest, both men showed up faster than they would in an exhibition bout. Smith impressed every one with his fine condition, improved quickness and general cleverness, and his stock as a winner against Walcott at Music Hall March 1 went up.
1895-02-14 The Boston Post (Boston, MA) (page 3)
The Boston delegation of sports who went to Lynn on Tuesday evening to see Billy Smith box are speaking in warm praise of the "mysterious one." Smith was to box Billy Hennessey, but as the latter was ill it was decided that he should box Peter Maher. Three stiff rounds were boxed and Smith gave the greatest satisfaction, and added some friends to his list who will back him against Joe Walcott.
The great surprise, however, was the grand showing made by Peter Maher. The Irish champion is today more capable than at any other period of his career. He feels confident that he will beat Jim Hall in their coming six-round contest.
1900-09-11 Young Peter Jackson W18 (Cleveland, OH, USA)
1898-10-07 Charlie McKeever W25 (New York, NY, USA)
1898-10-08 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 4)
"Mysterious Billy" Smith outpointed "Charlie" McKeever, of Philadelphia, in a twenty-five-round contest last night at the Lenox Athletic Club, thereby retaining the 142-pound championship, which he has successfully defended many times recently. His last encounter was with "Jim" Judge, at Scranton, Penn., last Monday, when he knocked Judge out a few seconds before the end of what was intended to be the last round.
Smith was fresh and strong last night, and McKeever also looked to be in good condition, and confident of holding his own. The man of mystery, however, proved his superiority in every round, and forced the issue from start to finish. The decision was favorably received by the spectators.
1898-10-08 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 4)
Mysterious Billy Smith demonstrated his right to hold the title of welter weight champion by defeating Charlie McKeever in their twenty-five round contest at the Lenox Athletic Club last evening. Both men showed great cleverness in blocking, but there was one blow that McKeever was unable to stop and that was Smith's right to the kidneys in the infighting, and it was this blow that did much to win the battle for Smith. When the men entered the ring there was a long delay, owing to McKeever's demand that Smith should remove the bandages which he wore on both hands. Smith finally agreed to remove those on his right hand and McKeever agreed to allow him to retain those on his left. This hand Smith was unable to use more than a few times during the bout and had it been well the fight would have been considerably shorter.
1898-10-08 The Morning Telegraph (New York, NY) (page 3)
The bout lasted the full twenty-five rounds scheduled. Smith was the aggressor, but McKeever showed himself to be a clever defensive fighter. Referee White's decision gave satisfaction.
1898-10-08 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 12)
The men fought cleverly throughout, but Smith in a majority of the rounds clearly had the better of the contest. In one round only did McKeever make a decided impression, and that was in the twenty-third, when he dazed the Bostonian with a right on the jaw. Smith scored a knock down in the twenty-fifth and final round, and thereby clinched his right to the winner's share of the purse.
1898-10-08 The New York Press (New York, NY) (page 5)
In the last ten rounds of the contest Smith's left hand practically was useless and in the last five rounds it dangled helplessly by his side. Notwithstanding this big handicap he whipped his man and earned the decision which was awarded to him by Charley White, the referee. This was a fight from start to finish. There was not a minute of it that was not filled with work that was both fast and clever. McKeever, like Smith, is a two handed fighter. Both are hard punchers, and each can take as well as give a blow. Smith's hands were not in good condition when he entered the ring, and when he landed his left on McKeever's head in the fifteenth round that hand went out of business. The only use he made of it after that was to feint with it, and from the twentieth to the twenty-fifth round he could not get this poor service out of it.
1898-10-08 The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY) (page 7)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith, the Boston pugilist, was given the decision in a twenty-five round fight last night with Charley McKeever, of Philadelphia, at the Lenox A. C. The spectators were not pleased with Referee White's verdict, but nevertheless it was probably a just one, as Smith was the aggressor throughout the fight. He injured his left hand before the contest had progressed far, but despite that he forced the fighting. In the twenty-third round McKeever landed heavily on Smith's jaw, making him groggy. He couldn't put the mysterious fighter out, however, and in the following two rounds Smith exhibited wonderful recuperative powers.
1898-10-08 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 9)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith of Boston received the decision of Referee White after a sensational twenty-five round glove fight with Charley McKeever of Philadelphia at the Lenox A. C. last night. Smith hurt his left hand early in the battle, but for the first dozen rounds he did the bulk of work. In the twenty-third round McKeever had Smith groggy from a punch on the jaw, but he could not finish the job and literally fought himself out. In the next two rounds the Boston man showed wonderful recuperative powers. McKeever was on the defensive during a majority of the rounds, and was fairly defeated. There was intense excitement during the last half dozen rounds, and the McKeever spectators did not like the referee's verdict. But it could not have been otherwise, after taking into consideration the constant offensive tactics of the Boston pugilist.
1898-10-08 The World (New York, NY) (page 8)
The fight was one of the best that has been seen in any of the clubs of Greater New York within a year.
There was science for those who like science, while those that love slugging and blood got plenty of both. The men were aggressive throughout. In one round Smith looked a winner, but in the next McKeever evened up matters. So it went until the end of the twenty-five rounds, and Referee White announced Smith the winner.
1899-06-30 Charlie McKeever D20 (New York, NY, USA)
1899-07-01 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 5)
Charles McKeever of Philadelphia showed to remarkable advantage with Mysterious Billy Smith at the Broadway Athletic Club last evening and his most ardent admirer, who had expected no more than that he would stay the limit, were greatly elated when he succeeded in making a draw. Smith's showing was disappointing on the whole and while he was the aggressor throughout the contest, and administered the most punishment, his face at the finish gave evidence of McKeever's cleverness. Smith did not fight in his old form, but tumbled in trouble in such a reckless manner that he left many openings of which the Philadelphian was not slow in taking advantage. Smith's best work was confined to McKeever's body, which he had very sore from right hand smashes. McKeever possessed the better left and proved a surprise to Smith on the infighting, returning blow for blow with Smith at that game. The men fought twenty rounds at catch weights and the referee's decision pleased the majority of the large crowd present.
1899-07-01 The Morning Telegraph (New York, NY) (page 1)
What was expected to prove a fierce encounter between "Mysterious" Billy Smith and Charlie McKeever at the Broadway Athletic Club last night turned out a rather tame affair. Billy Smith's usual ferocity was missing, and he showed little of his customary aggressiveness. This he attributed to his recent attack of sunstroke, and in proof of the same his seconds constantly applied large cakes of ice to his head. Occasionally the mysterious gentleman made a rush and hammered his man, but for the most part he contented himself with long range sparring.
Smith was quite quite willing to come to close quarters and settle the question in a mixup, but McKeever would have none of it, and hugged like a grizzly whenever they came together. Both men were cut over the left eye, which was the only mark.
McKeever continually directed his attacks to Smith's body, but failed to do any damage. On the other hand, McKeever's body was soon very red as a result of Smith's blows. Smith certainly landed the most effective blows, catching McKeever very hard on the mouth a number of times, but the latter's strength sustained him. McKeever shook Smith up in the nineteenth with a terrific thump on the neck with the left, but the New Yorker came back strong. Smith certainly was the aggressor throughout, and was willing to fight all the time, but McKeever's hugging tactics prevented. On points it looked as though Smith had an advantage, but Referee White could not see it in that light, for he called it a draw.
1899-07-01 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 11)
For the second time during their careers as pugilists "Mysterious Billy" Smith, of this city, and "Charley" McKeever, of Philadelphia, fought a twenty round draw at the Broadway Athletic Club last night. It was an interesting fight and many of the spectators thought McKeever should have been declared the winner, but the majority of the sports believed the ruling a just one and applauded "Johnny" White, the referee.
1899-07-01 The New York Press (New York, NY) (page 4)
While Smith was looked upon as the better man, his work showed that he has not recovered from the sunstroke, on account of which his match with Ryan had to be declared off. He met McKeever at catch weights, and the bout resulted in a draw. Smith was the lighter of the two. He showed to anything but good advantage, lacking his usual quickness, and failed to make as good a fight as was expected of him. McKeever, on the other hand, was a decided surprise, as he has improved wonderfully since the last time he met Smith in the ring. They agreed to box under strict Queensberry rules, and McKeever proved to be a tartar on in-fighting. While the Philadelphian was not so effective at close quarters, he certainly administered more punishment than Smith looked for. McKeever was fast and clever, landing his left frequently to the face; but Smith countered with left hooks to the neck and hard right wallops over the kidneys.
1899-07-01 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 11)
The men met at catch weights, and a decision of draw, rendered by Referee "Johnny" White, seemed satisfactory to the spectators. In leading McKeever was much better than Smith. At short-range fighting and in clinches his opponent landed two blows to his one.
1899-07-01 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 8)
Mysterious Billy Smith of Boston, who was overcome by the heat some time ago and was thereby incapacitated for meeting Tommy Ryan, indulged in a rather interesting twenty-round draw with Charley McKeever at the Broadway A. C. last night. Smith was not in his best form, and those who played McKeever believed that he had a slight advantage on points when the bout was over. The referee, John White, however rendered a just verdict, all things considered.
The men said they weighed 142 each, but they were undoubtedly heavier.
1899-07-01 The World (New York, NY) (page 3)
Charley McKeever, of Philadelphia, and Mysterious Billy Smith fought a twenty-round drawn battle in the Broadway Athletic Club arena last night, but it was not the exciting contest expected between two men of such high class.
Both were aggressive, but many thought McKeever had a slight shade the best of it. The men left the ring in good condition and no marks outside of a damaged eye each. The referee declared the bout a draw, which decision was received with mingled cheers, hoots and cat-calls.
1899-07-28 Jack Mahoney ND6 (Philadelphia, PA, USA)
1899-07-29 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 2)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith and "Young" Mahoney are supposed to know something about the game, but if they do it was carefully concealed from the spectators. True, they worked, but it was not that which is looked for from men of such caliber. Smith introduced a new punch that toyed with the spot where brights disease is suppose to locate, and that was about all he did. His wild swings were cleverly avoided, and Mahoney contended himself with using his left straight for the face. Honors were about even, each being worse than the other.
1899-07-29 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 4)
The boxing game in this city was reopened at Industrial Hall last night in the presence of the most exclusive followers of the art of hit, stop and get away. Nobody but the most exclusive would have thought of turning out with the thermometer cavorting around the melting mark. The wind-up was between Mysterious Billy Smith and Young Mahoney, and as was to be expected, it went the limit. Mahoney, always a clever defensive fighter, resorted to every known Fabian trick to stay the limit, and stay the limit he did, although this morning he is doubtless nursing a beautiful pair of enlarged kidneys. Smith, under the direction of Charley McKeever, started in to rush things from the sound of the gong. He never came within a foot of the danger spot, but in all the clinches--and nearly all the leads resulted in clinches--he banged a merry tattoo on Mahoney's back right near the basement line. Mahoney stood this pounding all right for the first two rounds, but in the last four he gave evidence of being hurt by trying to bring his right glove behind him to soften the fall of Smith's hard punches. Smith never once transgressed the rules, but some of the more unthinking of the crowd hissed when he hit in the clinches. As a matter of fact, this was unavoidable for the reason that Mahoney clinched whenever opportunity offered, and on more than one occasion made the opportunity. Mahoney confined himself to occasional straight left leads, which had no perceptible effect upon Smith, and now and then got in a counter. These efforts were the more pyrotechnic, and consequently did more to enthuse the crowd than did the heavy body punches which Smith got in.
1899-07-29 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)
John Mahoney and "Mysterious Billy" Smith met in a six-round boxing contest at Industrial Hall last night. Although Mahoney outpointed Smith, the latter's blows did more damage, and, as they were all directed at one spot, the left kidney, Mahoney is likely to feel the effects for some time. There was a fair-sized crowd present, but the extreme heat made it unpleasant, both for the spectators and principals. The crowd did not take kindly to Smith's tactics--hitting with one hand free--and several times grew quite noisy. Referee Crowdhurst stopped the first round about half a minute before the close of the round on account of the disorder, and announced that unless the spectators kept better order the bout would be stopped. After that there was but little trouble. Mahoney landed more clean blows than Smith, but they seemed to be very light and had little effect. He paid all his attention to Smith's head, while the latter worked for the body entirely. Mahoney when on the defensive assumed a crouching attitude, which made it difficult for Smith to land. Toward the close of the first round Smith rushed Mahoney through the ropes, and, holding him off, sent in a shower of blows. The crowd did not like this sort of boxing and hissed Smith, whereupon the referee sent the men to their corners.
Mahoney did some clever work in the second, landing left and right on Smith's face a number of times without a return. Smith's failure to land on Mahoney seemed to anger him, and when they came to a clinch Billy would chop down on Mahoney's kidneys as hard as he could drive. In the third Mahoney landed a hard right-hand swing on Smith's left eye, but Smith came back with a heavy right on the wind. Mahoney landed at least a half-dozen light blows in succession without a return in this round, and Smith, as usual, waited until Mahoney clinched and then got back at him with heavy blows on the kidneys. The spot was getting very red, and Mahoney evidently was feeling the effects of the blows, as he tried to protect the spot as much as possible after the third rond. On the whole, the bout was unsatisfactory from the spectators' point of view.
1899-09-29 Billy Stift D6 (Chicago, IL, USA)
1899-09-30 The Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL) (page 6)
Mysterious Billy Smith of Boston and Billy Stift of Chicago fought six rounds to a draw at the Star Theater last night. The bout was one of the tamest seen in Chicago for a long time and the majority of the crowd went away convinced that the result was prearranged. Only once in the six rounds did there seem any semblance of earnestness. This was in the beginning of the sixth, when Smith, after landing a light left on the jaw, swung his right across to the point of the jaw and staggered the North-Sider. Smith's forte is infighting, but he insisted on a clean break. His left leads were almost invariably short, and Stift blocked nine out of ten so easily it appeared as if the men were boxing by signal. Stift, on the other hand, did not make one of his customary windmill swings until the last round. In the clinches the men frequently whispered to each other as if apologizing or giving further instructions. It did not take the crowd long to size up the situation and before the first round was over the fighters were urged to get together. As the tame work continued the crowd grew more demonstrative and the sound of the gong at the end of the second round was the signal for a wave of discontent. A rather hot exchange of body blows in the fourth round led to an exchange of whispers, and the crowd exhorted them to quit talking and fight. Smith found his opponent's back unprotected in the fifth round, and landed a hard slap on the middle of it. The intent was palpable, and a derisive shout filled the theater. By the end of the fifth round there was a general shout for everybody to leave, and numbers filed out.
Stift had done most of the leading in the first five rounds, but Smith weakened up in the first part of the sixth, and Referee Hogan announced a draw.
1899-09-30 The Chicago Record (Chicago, IL) (page 6)
For some unknown reason "Mysterious Billy" Smith refused to fight Billy Stift for five rounds in their six-round contest at the Star theater last night. Until the last round Stift had done all the fighting, which, by the way, was not very much, while Smith had paid strict attention to getting out of the way of his opponent. In the sixth and last round Smith fought fast enough to get a draw from Referee Hogan amid cat calls and cries of "fake" from the crowd.
1899-09-30 The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) (page 8)
"Mysterious" Billy Smith and Billy Stift fought six rather tame rounds at a North Side club last night, Referee Malachy Hogan calling the contest a draw. Referee Hogan finally got the men into the center of the ring, and a few seconds later the bout began. Stift was the aggressor from the start, and his friends were surprised at the cool manner in which he went at Smith, and the fact that most of his blows were straight-arm ones and not the wild swings with which he generally favors the spectators. The fight was anything but interesting, and cries of "Fake!" "Take them off!" etc., could be heard on all sides. Little or no work was done and the crowd began to leave the building.
This is an official program from the Mysterious Billy Smith-Tommy Ryan fight on May 27th, 1895, at the Seaside Athletic Club at Coney Island, New York. Mysterious Billy Smith and Tommy Ryan fought the welterweight title in a scheduled 25 round match. Matched at 142 pounds. Ryan was down in the 10th round and saved by the bell rung at the end of the first minute of the 11th round. Stopped when the police intervened, with Smith hanging helpless on the ropes. The fight was declared a draw.
This is a program the Mysterious Billy Smith-Charles "Kid" McCoy fight on May 18th, 1896 at the Newtown Street Armory in Boston, Massachusetts. McCoy won when Smith was disqualified by referee Bill Daly in the 6th round. Smith fouled on a break.
One last article about Mysterious Billy Smith, I can't get enough of this stuff.
Was mysterious Billy Smith Birmingham's first World Boxing Champion
Boxing historian unearths a nugget which suggests a Brummie beat Kal Yafai to super-flyweight superstardom - by 124 years.
By: Mike Lockley
Ron Wells, 89 from Northfield, who's a Boxing Historian looking into the Mysterious Billy Smith who was Birmingham first World Boxing Champion.
While fight fans celebrate Birmingham’s first world champ in super-flyweight superstar Kal Yafai, one boxing historian has unearthed a nugget which suggests a Brummie beat him to it – by 124 years.
The record books will tell you mean, marauding Mysterious Billy Smith – a brawler dubbed the dirtiest fighter ever – was born on May 15, 1871, in Nova Scotia, Canada. The scarred hardman, blessed with a pitbull’s eye for tact and diplomacy, went on to become the first world welterweight champ during a brutal, 80-fight career (32 wins, 26 draws).
Smith, a man infected and cursed by violence, indulged in many more saloon punch-ups and was shot three times. In the Wild West, there were few wilder than Mysterious Billy Smith.
The only mystery appears to be how Smith, who thrived on intimidation and menace, didn’t become a fatal victim of the same brutality he doled out on a regular basis.
Now Birmingham’s Ron Wells – his home a treasure trove of ancient fight books, mags and newspapers – has discovered documents revealing Smith was born in our city.
In a January 26, 1938, edition of “Boxing”, ex-pug Jim Kenrick, a bantamweight who twice faced world title claimant Johnny Coulon in 1910, wrote of the controversial champ’s Birmingham roots.
Kenrick’s article was reproduced in the Black Country Bugle 14 years ago.
Smith’s real Christian name, Amos, was certainly popular in the West Midlands’ industrial hub, yet rare in Canada. The fighter hated it and would answer back with his fists if any individual dared to address him as Amos.
Kenrick wrote: “Amos Smith was born in Birmingham on May 15, 1871. The older Smith [his father] found it hard to make a living in their native Birmingham, so decided to try their luck in the States.
“In 1876, the family touched down in Pennsylvania. From there, they emigrated to Maine and it was in that town that young Amos spent his teens. It was a tough spot in those days and the youngster soon established himself as a tough ‘un.
“His rough and ready style of fighting made him the cock of the walk among the lads of the town.”
In the tough, mobster-run docklands of the East Coast port, brooding Smith soon established himself as a man best not crossed.
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If Wells’ evidence is correct – and I have my doubts – Birmingham can lay claim to the meanest fighter the game has ever seen. Smith made Mike Tyson look like a member of Bucks Fizz.
We can also lay claim to an athlete who forged ring history. When Smith was at his pomp, there were no weight divisions between lightweight (nine-and-a-half stone) and middleweight (11-and-a-half).
Regulators rightly decided a 10-and-a-half-stone category was required – and Smith became the first welterweight champ on December 14, 1892, by starching Danny Needham in 14 rounds at the Wigwam Theatre, San Francisco. His purse for that victory was 2,000 dollars – a fortune.
Billy Smith who was Birmingham first World Boxing Champion.
Billy Smith who was Birmingham first World Boxing Champion.(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Smith gained universal recognition four months later by destroying Australia’s Tom Williams in two rounds. That earned him the staggering sum of 4,500 dollars, a Cristiano Ronaldo-sized wage packet by today’s standards.
He lost the title to Tommy Ryan after 20 hard rounds on July 26, 1894.
In 2003, fellow historian Ron Jackson described the pugilist as “one of the roughest, toughest welterweights that ever lived. A fighter in the true sense, he was described as unscrupulous and savage”. Smith took dockland violence into the ring with him. Even by the barbaric standards of the day, his 1895 Massachusetts bout with legend Barbados Joe Walcott – not to be confused with 1950s’ heavyweight Jersey Joe Walcott – was X-rated.
Jackson wrote: “Smith abused Walcott verbally, butted him repeatedly, wrestled and even shoved an elbow into his eye. The referee did not step in and the bout became even dirtier. Smith actually bit Walcott on the head and the fight ended in a draw.”
It was one of many times Smith bent the rules to accommodate his street-fighting techniques. Following his wife’s death, Smith began to drink heavily and fought as if he should have been wielding an empty bottle.
His July, 1896, showdown with Billy Gallagher, an appalling spectacle punctuated by biting, butting and kicking, could have taken place in a bar.
It was carnage, with a report stating: “Within one minute the dirty stuff commenced.
“When Gallagher clinched, Smith used a hip throw to shake him off. Instead of walking around his opponent, he stepped on his head. Smith said later he had not meant to hurt Gallagher; it was meant as a warning.
“However, when an enraged Gallagher came at him, Smith repeated the hip throw and stepped on his opponent’s face again. The police captain on duty said he would not tolerate such tactics and the referee declared the fight a draw.
“This was not the end of it. When the fighters went to fetch their money for the fight a few days later, they met at the promoter’s saloon and resumed the brawl.
“Smith put Gallagher down with a punch to the head and put the boot in. Then he tried to chew his ear off. Only when someone threw hot water on them, the fighters broke up.”
Worse was to follow. In his next fight, Smith was disqualified for knocking out Jim Ryan while his opponent was on the canvas. Enraged by the decision, he then punched the ref’s lights out.
According to Kenrick’s article, Smith, his reputation soiled in America, returned to Birmingham. He wrote: “After losing the title to Tommy Ryan, Smith decided to visit the land of his birth.
“He took a trip to his native England where, on February 5, 1896, he encountered Dido Plumb at the National Sporting Club. Billy’s non-stop fighting was too much for Dido who was well beaten in three rounds.
“Smith went back to the States because no-one here wanted his company in the ring.”
That’s hardly surprising. In a country where sportmanship was considered paramount, patrons were appalled by Smith’s win-at-all-costs tactics. He retired in 1911, having reclaimed the world title and notched up ten losses by disqualification.
Smith, who ran a Portland, Oregon, saloon, may have walked away from boxing, but not trouble. He was gunned down by a ship’s captain while walking Third Street and engaged in numerous pub battles.
He died from uremia on October 15, 1937 – probably cursing, biting and butting the very medics tasked with saving him.
Much of his career is shrouded in mystery. Now Wells has uncovered the biggest mystery of all: Was Billy Smith a Brummie? “It’s a talking point, at the very least,” said Ron.
Mysterious Billy Smith may have been bad to the bone, but he was one of ours.
A couple more photos of Mysterious Billy Smith. Great image.
Mysterious Billy Smith in a fight pose.