Mysterious Billy Smith, The Dirtiest Fighter Who Ever Lived
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
To have been world champion, in the highest historical sense, means a boxer has to have done some things right to get there. Not all boxers who reach a world title can stay there. Some climb their way back. Most do not. In the case of Mysterious Billy Smith, no fighter was ever dirtier. Smith was a welterweight of 142 pounds (the division limit was 142 pounds in the pioneer era of gloved boxing over a century ago which began in the 1880’s).
A native of Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada, Smith resided in Portland, Oregon, and had an unimpressive career record of 34 wins, 25 losses, 27 draws, and five No Contests, with 22 knockouts. He also fought six newspaper bouts. Smith was disqualified in 13 professional bouts, the all-time professional record. Smith first laid claim to the world welterweight title in 1892 and 1893 with knockout wins over Shadow Maber (KO 26), Danny Needham (KO 14) and Tom Williams (KO 2). Smith drew twice with undefeated Tommy Ryan, before losing his World Welterweight title by 20 round decision (20-0-6) in 1894. Smith’s attempt to regain the World Welterweight title in 1895 ended in an 18 round draw with Ryan when police intervened and entered the ring at the Coney Island Seaside Athletic Club, New York City.
Smith was disqualified in the ninth round of his fourth match with Ryan in 1896. Smith was also disqualified in bouts with Charles Kid McCoy (Lost by Disqualification 6), Australian Jim Ryan (Lost by Disqualification 7), and Billy Stift (Lost By Disqualification 5). Smith won by disqualification over Johnny Gorman in 1897 (Won Disqualification 5).
Despite his record of dirty wars, Smith surprisingly regained the World Welterweight championship by winning a 25 round decision over Matty Matthews in New York City in 1898. Smith defended his title by 25 round decision over Charlie McKeever in New York City, and by 20 round decision over Joe Walcott, also in 1898. He retained the title again by 14th round stoppage over George Lavigne in San Francisco, and a 20 round draw in New York City and a 20 round win in Brooklyn with Charlie McKeever in rematches, all three bouts in 1899.
In January 1900, Smith knocked down Rube Ferns 15 times, but lost by disqualification in the 21st round in Buffalo, New York. The controversial loss meant Smith still claimed his world title. Eleven days later, Smith defended his claim to the world welterweight title by knocking out Frank McConnell in the 22nd round in New York City. He retained his world welterweight title by 25 round draw with Jack Mahoney in March 1900. Smith lost his title again in April 1900 when Matty Matthews knocked him out round 19 in New York City.
Matthews did enough damage to Smith he was never the same fighter again, winning only two of 20 fights over the next 15 years. This time span included disqualification losses to Jimmy Handler in New York City in 1900 (Lost by Disqualification 15), Joe Walcott in Connecticut in 1900 (Lost by Disqualification 10), Jim Judge in Georgia in 1900 (Lost by Disqualification 11), and Al Neill in Oregon in 1900 (Lost by Disqualification 10).
Smith made a comeback in 1910 at age 39, winning a ten round decision over Al Neill in Oregon. Smith was disqualified again in 1911 against Jim Cameron in San Francisco (Lost by Disqualification 3). A final comeback at age 44, ended with a sixth round stoppage loss to 200 pound white hope heavyweight Jack Root in December 1915.
On retirement, Smith ran a saloon in Portland, Oregon, called ‘The Champion’s Rest’ tilled he passed away in October 1937.
In the era long before fighters like Andrew Golota came along, Smith displayed a blatant disregard for the rules in the lower weight classes as a talented two-fisted battler with quick hands who waged war with an ‘anything goes’ approach. Smith’s popular foul tactics included frequently elbowing, headbutting, kneeing, rabbit punching, low blows, thumbing, wrestling, hitting off the break, , holding and hitting, headlocks, holding the ropes and hitting, and even biting his opponents, sometimes getting away with it, more often than not. These trademark illegal tactics by Mysterious Billy Smith, of which he was master, earned him induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.
There’s something to be said for the dirty fighter who made his mark on the sport of boxing. Over a century ago, it can be concluded Mysterious Billy Smith made his statement in the ring. Smith was a talented technical boxer who was also the most disgusting dirty cheater of all-time of the boxing ring, determined to break the rules on every possible occasion. For the number of times he was disqualified-13-historians must consider how many bouts Smith was NOT disqualified in when he should have been. Without archival fight footage, there is no way of knowing how many fouling fights Smith was able to win without getting disqualified, including his world title bouts.
On December 17, 1911, Smith was shot three times by his wife’s ex-husband, Captain A.B. Loomis, in a mysterious lover’s quarrel. Smith miraculously recovered from his wounds.
Smith had a son, Mysterious Billy Smith Jr., also known as Soldier Kid Barde, who fought out of Portland, Oregon, as a lightweight between the years 1922 and 1925, compiling a professional record of nine wins, 10 losses, and four draws, with two knockouts.
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