Sid Smith (boxer) explained

Sid Smith
Realname:Sid Smith
Weight:
Height:5feet
Nationality:British
Birth Date:1889 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Bermondsey, London, England
Total:101
Wins:78
Ko:11
Losses:17
Draws:6
No Contests:0

Sid Smith (2 February 1889 – 28 April 1948) was an English professional boxer who competed from 1907 to 1919. He was the first officially recognised BBBofC British flyweight champion, holding the title from 1912 to 1913, and was also recognized by the International Boxing Union as the world flyweight champion in 1913.[1]

Professional career

Born in Bermondsey, London, of Jewish heritage, Smith learned to box as a boy at the Oxford Medical Mission in Bermondsey.[2]

He had his first professional fight on 1 February 1907, a day before his eighteenth birthday, beating Jack Brooks on points over six rounds.

He was not a hard hitter but was a fast mover, who always displayed outstanding footwork.

Smith held an early claim to the championship of England, beating Stoker Bill Hoskyne over 20 2-minute rounds in September 1911, at The Ring, Blackfriars, London on points, and beating Louis Ruddick on points in October 1911 at Liverpool Stadium.

Taking the British Empire flyweight title, December, 1911

On 4 December 1911, he was matched with Joe Wilson, at the National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, winning the Club's newly introduced English (later British) title in the flyweight division and the first Lonsdale Belt.[3] [4] Wilson stepped in with two weeks notice to replace Sam Kellar, the originally scheduled boxer. Smith was down four times in the twenty round bout for short counts, but was still reported to have won handily.[1]

Smith arrived in New York in February 1912 with British bantamweight boxer Billy Merchant.[5] In a rare American bout on 24 February 1912, Smith fought a six-round draw by newspaper decision of the Philadelphia Item against talented Jewish boxer Louisiana in Philadelphia. In a fast bout, both boxers exhibited exceptional ringcraft, and footwork.[6] Many boxing reporters, as well as Smith's manager W.E. Ames and Smith himself, hoped for a match with American boxer and reigning world bantamweight champion Johnny Coulon for a world championship, but Coulon's handlers were not interested. At the time, America did not have a flyweight boxing division, allowing Smith to compete against America's top bantams, including Coulon.[7] [8]

On 19 September 1912, he made the first defence of his British flyweight title against Curley Walker at the Ring in Southwark, England, winning on points in a twenty-round bout.[1]

Taking the European and world flyweight titles, April, 1913

In April 1913, he fought in Élysée Montmartre, Paris against reigning champion Frenchman Eugene Criqui for the European flyweight title and the World flyweight title, as recognized by the International Boxing Union. The bout was billed as the 112 pound (flyweight) championship. He beat Criqui on points over twenty rounds to take both titles. The ruling was a unanimous decision. An exceptional competitor, Criqui would move up a weight division and take the world bantamweight championship as well in 1923.[9]

On 2 June 1913, he defended his titles against Bill Ladbury at Blackfriars, London. He lost the bout after holding his titles only seven weeks, suffering a technical knockout when the fight was stopped in the eleventh round.[10]

On 24 October 1913, unable to return to the ring for the sixth round, he lost to Charles Ledoux at the Élysée Montmartre in Paris.[1]

He lost his last bout with his talented rival, former British bantamweight champion and future world flyweight champion, Jimmy Wilde on 27 March 1916 at Hoxton Baths, London, in a third-round knockout of a fifteen-round match.[1] Smith lost two previous meeting with Wilde, a knockout loss in a title bout in December 1914, and an eighth-round technical knockout loss in December 1915. In their December 1914 bout in Liverpool, Wilde successfully defended his claim to the British 112 pound (flyweight) title.[7]

He continued fighting until December 1919, when he had his last fight, beating Johnny Marshall in an eleventh-round technical knockout on 26 December 1919, at the Royal Albert Hall.

Life after boxing retirement

After retiring from boxing, he went into coaching boys, earning a living with a 'guess your weight' machine at markets in South London, though plagued by health problems. He trained professionals, including Joe Lynch prior to his fight with Jimmy Wilde, and was recruited to the Knights of Columbus to train United States Army boxers stationed in Britain. He also entertained, appearing on the stage with Harry Wheldon.[11]

He had three sons, Sid, a jockey, Harry, and Bobby.

Sid Smith died on 29 April 1948, and his funeral was held on 4 May at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Leytonstone.[12]

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[13] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
101Win78–17–5 Johnny MarshallTKO11 (15)Dec 26, 1918
100Win77–17–5 Jerry LyonsRTD9 (10)Oct 12, 1918
99Win76–17–5 Billy GarrardPTS6Sep 17, 1918
98Win75–17–5 Sid WhatleyPTS10Apr 22, 1918
97Loss74–17–5 Joe ConnRTD4 (20)Oct 15, 1917
96Loss74–16–5 Tommy NobleTKO5 (20)Apr 23, 1917
95Win74–15–5 Billy AffleckTKO13 (20)Feb 12, 1917
94Loss73–15–5 George ClarkPTS20Jan 29, 1917
93Win73–14–5 Sid WhatleyKO16 (20)Jan 8, 1917
92Win72–14–5 Jack JosephsPTS15Jun 22, 1916
91Win71–14–5 Ivor DayPTS15Jun 1, 1916
90Win70–14–5 Dido GainsPTS20May 20, 1916
89Loss69–14–5 Jimmy WildeKO3 (15)Mar 27, 1916
88Win69–13–5 Sid ShieldsPTS15Feb 17, 1916
87Loss68–13–5 Jimmy WildeTKO8 (15)Dec 20, 1915
86Draw68–12–5 Johnny BestPTS20May 3, 1915
85Draw68–12–4 Johnny BestPTS20Mar 20, 1915
84Win68–12–3 Young RileyPTS6Mar 17, 1915
83Loss67–12–3 Joe SymondsRTD4 (20)Feb 15, 1915
82Win67–11–3 Johnny MarshallDQ4 (20)Dec 19, 1914
81Loss66–11–3 Jimmy WildeTKO9 (15)Dec 3, 1914
80Win66–10–3 Billy Young RowlandsPTS20Oct 26, 1914
79Loss65–10–3 Alf WyePTS20Mar 23, 1914
78Win65–9–3 Alf WyePTS20Feb 16, 1914
77Loss64–9–3 Alf WyePTS15Nov 3, 1913
76Loss64–8–3 Charles LedouxRTD6 (20)Oct 24, 1913
75Win64–7–3 Ike Young BradleyPTS10Oct 9, 1913
74Loss63–7–3 Bill LadburyRTD11 (20)Jun 2, 1913
73Win63–6–3 Joe SymondsPTS15May 16, 1913
72Win62–6–3 Eugène CriquiUD20Apr 11, 1913
71Win61–6–3 Charlie WardPTS10Mar 28, 1913
70Win60–6–3 Danny ElliottPTS8Mar 25, 1913
69Win59–6–3 Kid HoganPTS6Mar 15, 1913
68Win58–6–3 Sam KellarPTS20Feb 24, 1913
67Win57–6–3 Charlie WardPTS6Feb 14, 1913
66Win56–6–3 Albert BouzonniePTS10Feb 12, 1913
65Win55–6–3 Danny ElliottPTS6Jan 23, 1913
64Win54–6–3 Albert BouzonniePTS10Dec 20, 1912
63Win53–6–3 Curley WalkerPTS20Sep 19, 1912
62Draw52–6–3 LouisianaNWS6Feb 24, 1912
61Win52–6–3Joe WilsonPTS20Dec 4, 1911
60Win51–6–3Louis RuddickPTS20Oct 19, 1911
59Win50–6–3Georges GaillardPTS10Oct 2, 1911
58Win49–6–3Stoker Bill HoskynePTS20Sep 25, 1911
57Win48–6–3Kid HoganKO8 (10)Aug 4, 1911
56Win47–6–3Kid HoganPTS10Mar 20, 1911
55Win46–6–3Kid HoganPTS6Mar 8, 1911
54Win45–6–3George PetersPTS15Jan 30, 1911
53Win44–6–3Kid HoganKO7 (20)Jan 25, 1911
52Win43–6–3Stoker Bill HoskynePTS6Jan 11, 1911
51Win42–6–3Bob FinchKO2 (10)Dec 26, 1910
50Win41–6–3Alex LaffertyPTS20Dec 5, 1910
49Win40–6–3George HearnePTS6Nov 16, 1910
48Win39–6–3Bert MoughtonPTS10Nov 12, 1910
47Loss38–6–3Paddy CarrollPTS20Nov 10, 1910
46Win38–5–3Harry ProsserPTS6Oct 19, 1910
45Win37–5–3Ginger OsborneRTD9 (10)Oct 10, 1910
44Win36–5–3Bob FinchPTS6Oct 3, 1910
43Win35–5–3Kid LoganPTS6Sep 1, 1910
42Win34–5–3Paddy CarrollPTS10Jun 6, 1910
41Draw33–5–3Albert CocksedgePTS20Feb 23, 1910
40Win33–5–2Paddy CarrollPTS20Feb 17, 1910
39Win32–5–2Joe ShearPTS10Jan 27, 1910
38Win31–5–2Bill KynePTS6Jan 17, 1910
37Win30–5–2Jim ButlerPTS20Jan 10, 1910
36Win29–5–2Bill KynePTS6Dec 20, 1909
35Win28–5–2Ernie GodwinPTS6Dec 18, 1909
34Loss27–5–2Johnny HughesPTS6Dec 11, 1909
33Win27–4–2Bill KynePTS6Dec 6, 1909
32Win26–4–2Ted TimminsPTS6Oct 8, 1909
31Win25–4–2Albert DabbsPTS6Oct 4, 1909
30Win24–4–2Frank ExallKO2 (6)Sep 20, 1909
29Loss23–4–2Bill KynePTS6Jun 5, 1909
28Win23–3–2Albert CocksedgePTS10Mar 23, 1909
27Win22–3–2Jack WisePTS6Mar 15, 1909
26Win21–3–2Albert CocksedgePTS15Feb 8, 1909
25Loss20–3–2Albert CocksedgePTS6Jan 9, 1909
24Win20–2–2George HearnePTS6Dec 21, 1908
23Win19–2–2Jack MorrisPTS6Nov 30, 1908
22Win18–2–2Frank MorcombePTS10Oct 30, 1908
21Win17–2–2Harry LyonsPTS6Sep 1, 1908
20Win16–2–2Jack FoxPTS6Jul 4, 1908
19Loss15–2–2Charlie DewPTS10May 25, 1908
18Draw15–1–2Albert CocksedgePTS6Apr 27, 1908
17Win15–1–1Curley OsbornePTS6Apr 2, 1908
16Draw14–1–1Frank ExallPTS6Mar 21, 1908
15Win14–1Young HearleyRTD2 (6)Mar 9, 1908
14Win13–1Drummer Le HayPTS6Feb 15, 1908
13Win12–1Frank MorcombePTS6Feb 1, 1908
12Win11–1Jim GloverPTS6Jan 25, 1908
11Win10–1Frank MorcombePTS6Jan 20, 1908
10Loss9–1Charlie DewPTS10Jan 13, 1908
9Win9–0Arthur JonesTKO3 (6)Jan 4, 1908
8Win8–0Charlie DewPTS6Dec 14, 1907
7Win7–0Curley OsbornePTS6Nov 30, 1907
6Win6–0Drummer Le HayPTS6Nov 27, 1907
5Win5–0Curley OsbornePTS6Nov 16, 1907
4Win4–0Curley OsbornePTS6May 25, 1907
3Win3–0Drummer Le HayPTS6Apr 13, 1907
2Win2–0Drummer Le HayPTS6Mar 30, 1907
1Win1–0Curley OsbornePTS6Mar 23, 1907

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
101Win78–17–6Johnny MarshallTKO11 (15)Dec 26, 1918
100Win77–17–6Jerry LyonsRTD9 (10)Oct 12, 1918
99Win76–17–6Billy GarrardPTS6Sep 17, 1918
98Win75–17–6Sid WhatleyPTS10Apr 22, 1918
97Loss74–17–6Joe ConnRTD4 (20)Oct 15, 1917
96Loss74–16–6Tommy NobleTKO5 (20)Apr 23, 1917
95Win74–15–6Billy AffleckTKO13 (20)Feb 12, 1917
94Loss73–15–6George ClarkPTS20Jan 29, 1917
93Win73–14–6Sid WhatleyKO16 (20)Jan 8, 1917
92Win72–14–6Jack JosephsPTS15Jun 22, 1916
91Win71–14–6Ivor DayPTS15Jun 1, 1916
90Win70–14–6Dido GainsPTS20May 20, 1916
89Loss69–14–6Jimmy WildeKO3 (15)Mar 27, 1916
88Win69–13–6Sid ShieldsPTS15Feb 17, 1916
87Loss68–13–6Jimmy WildeTKO8 (15)Dec 20, 1915
86Draw68–12–6Johnny BestPTS20May 3, 1915
85Draw68–12–5Johnny BestPTS20Mar 20, 1915
84Win68–12–4Young RileyPTS6Mar 17, 1915
83Loss67–12–4Joe SymondsRTD4 (20)Feb 15, 1915
82Win67–11–4Johnny MarshallDQ4 (20)Dec 19, 1914
81Loss66–11–4Jimmy WildeTKO9 (15)Dec 3, 1914
80Win66–10–4Billy Young RowlandsPTS20Oct 26, 1914
79Loss65–10–4Alf WyePTS20Mar 23, 1914
78Win65–9–4Alf WyePTS20Feb 16, 1914
77Loss64–9–4Alf WyePTS15Nov 3, 1913
76Loss64–8–4Charles LedouxRTD6 (20)Oct 24, 1913
75Win64–7–4Ike Young BradleyPTS10Oct 9, 1913
74Loss63–7–4Bill LadburyRTD11 (20)Jun 2, 1913
73Win63–6–4Joe SymondsPTS15May 16, 1913
72Win62–6–4Eugène CriquiUD20Apr 11, 1913
71Win61–6–4Charlie WardPTS10Mar 28, 1913
70Win60–6–4Danny ElliottPTS8Mar 25, 1913
69Win59–6–4Kid HoganPTS6Mar 15, 1913
68Win58–6–4Sam KellarPTS20Feb 24, 1913
67Win57–6–4Charlie WardPTS6Feb 14, 1913
66Win56–6–4Albert BouzonniePTS10Feb 12, 1913
65Win55–6–4Danny ElliottPTS6Jan 23, 1913
64Win54–6–4Albert BouzonniePTS10Dec 20, 1912
63Win53–6–4Curley WalkerPTS20Sep 19, 1912
62Draw52–6–4LouisianaNWS6Feb 24, 1912
61Win52–6–3Joe WilsonPTS20Dec 4, 1911
60Win51–6–3Louis RuddickPTS20Oct 19, 1911
59Win50–6–3Georges GaillardPTS10Oct 2, 1911
58Win49–6–3Stoker Bill HoskynePTS20Sep 25, 1911
57Win48–6–3Kid HoganKO8 (10)Aug 4, 1911
56Win47–6–3Kid HoganPTS10Mar 20, 1911
55Win46–6–3Kid HoganPTS6Mar 8, 1911
54Win45–6–3George PetersPTS15Jan 30, 1911
53Win44–6–3Kid HoganKO7 (20)Jan 25, 1911
52Win43–6–3Stoker Bill HoskynePTS6Jan 11, 1911
51Win42–6–3Bob FinchKO2 (10)Dec 26, 1910
50Win41–6–3Alex LaffertyPTS20Dec 5, 1910
49Win40–6–3George HearnePTS6Nov 16, 1910
48Win39–6–3Bert MoughtonPTS10Nov 12, 1910
47Loss38–6–3Paddy CarrollPTS20Nov 10, 1910
46Win38–5–3Harry ProsserPTS6Oct 19, 1910
45Win37–5–3Ginger OsborneRTD9 (10)Oct 10, 1910
44Win36–5–3Bob FinchPTS6Oct 3, 1910
43Win35–5–3Kid LoganPTS6Sep 1, 1910
42Win34–5–3Paddy CarrollPTS10Jun 6, 1910
41Draw33–5–3Albert CocksedgePTS20Feb 23, 1910
40Win33–5–2Paddy CarrollPTS20Feb 17, 1910
39Win32–5–2Joe ShearPTS10Jan 27, 1910
38Win31–5–2Bill KynePTS6Jan 17, 1910
37Win30–5–2Jim ButlerPTS20Jan 10, 1910
36Win29–5–2Bill KynePTS6Dec 20, 1909
35Win28–5–2Ernie GodwinPTS6Dec 18, 1909
34Loss27–5–2Johnny HughesPTS6Dec 11, 1909
33Win27–4–2Bill KynePTS6Dec 6, 1909
32Win26–4–2Ted TimminsPTS6Oct 8, 1909
31Win25–4–2Albert DabbsPTS6Oct 4, 1909
30Win24–4–2Frank ExallKO2 (6)Sep 20, 1909
29Loss23–4–2Bill KynePTS6Jun 5, 1909
28Win23–3–2Albert CocksedgePTS10Mar 23, 1909
27Win22–3–2Jack WisePTS6Mar 15, 1909
26Win21–3–2Albert CocksedgePTS15Feb 8, 1909
25Loss20–3–2Albert CocksedgePTS6Jan 9, 1909
24Win20–2–2George HearnePTS6Dec 21, 1908
23Win19–2–2Jack MorrisPTS6Nov 30, 1908
22Win18–2–2Frank MorcombePTS10Oct 30, 1908
21Win17–2–2Harry LyonsPTS6Sep 1, 1908
20Win16–2–2Jack FoxPTS6Jul 4, 1908
19Loss15–2–2Charlie DewPTS10May 25, 1908
18Draw15–1–2Albert CocksedgePTS6Apr 27, 1908
17Win15–1–1Curley OsbornePTS6Apr 2, 1908
16Draw14–1–1Frank ExallPTS6Mar 21, 1908
15Win14–1Young HearleyRTD2 (6)Mar 9, 1908
14Win13–1Drummer Le HayPTS6Feb 15, 1908
13Win12–1Frank MorcombePTS6Feb 1, 1908
12Win11–1Jim GloverPTS6Jan 25, 1908
11Win10–1Frank MorcombePTS6Jan 20, 1908
10Loss9–1Charlie DewPTS10Jan 13, 1908
9Win9–0Arthur JonesTKO3 (6)Jan 4, 1908
8Win8–0Charlie DewPTS6Dec 14, 1907
7Win7–0Curley OsbornePTS6Nov 30, 1907
6Win6–0Drummer Le HayPTS6Nov 27, 1907
5Win5–0Curley OsbornePTS6Nov 16, 1907
4Win4–0Curley OsbornePTS6May 25, 1907
3Win3–0Drummer Le HayPTS6Apr 13, 1907
2Win2–0Drummer Le HayPTS6Mar 30, 1907
1Win1–0Curley OsbornePTS6Mar 23, 1907

See also

Sources

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sid Smith. BoxRec. 14 June 2018.
  2. News: Boys Must Box: Champions Who Have Graduated From Workers' Clubs . Smith, Sid . Daily Herald . 9 May 1919 . 24 December 2017 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  3. News: Sid Smith Wins Fly-weight Championship . Dundee Courier . 5 December 1911 . 24 December 2017 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  4. News: Romance of the Ring-7: Sid Smith of Bermondsey . Butler, James . Daily Herald . 5 January 1939 . 24 December 2017 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  5. "About the Boxers", The Wilkes-Barre Record, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 9, 7 February 1912
  6. "Tommy Langston Fights Merchant a Draw", The Gazette Times, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 7, 26 February 1912
  7. Silver, Mike (2016). Stars of the Ring, Published by Rowman and Littlefield, Los Angeles, pps. 83-84.
  8. Hoping for world championship in "Curley Really Defeats Flynn Can Defeat Jack Johnson", Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 25 February 1912
  9. News: Sid Smith beats Criqui . Sheffield Daily Telegraph . 14 April 1913 . 24 December 2017 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  10. News: The Ring: The Evening Show: Fly-Weight Championship: Bill Ladbury Beats Sid Smith . The Sportsman . 3 June 1913 . 24 December 2017 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  11. News: I Fought to the Top: Stories of the Ring and the Stage . Smith, Sid . Dundee Courier . 23 February 1931 . 24 December 2017 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  12. News: O'Sullivan's Next Bout . Daily Herald . 4 May 1948 . 24 December 2017 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  13. Web site: BoxRec: Login.

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