Wallace Smith

Wallace "Bud" Smith (born April 2, 1924 in Cincinnati, OH — died July 11, 1973) was a world lightweight boxing champion.

Amateur career

Smith represented the United States at the 1948 Olympic Games in the lightweight division. Smith defeated Chuck Davey of Michigan State College, to earn a spot on the team. Smith had been the 1948 A.A.U. Lightweight Champion. He reportedly ended his amateur career with a 52-4 record.

Professional career

Smith turned pro in 1948 with a first round knockout over Torpedo Tinsley. Over the next seven years, Smith established himself as one of the world's top lightweights with victories over top-rated Red Top Davis, Orlando Zulueta, and Arthur Persley.

On June 29, 1955, Smith upset the odds and decisioned 3-time world lightweight champion James Carter to win the title. Four months later successfully defended the title in a rematch with Carter. [ "Bud Smith Wins Confused Decision Over Jimmy Carter," "Alubquerque Journal", October 20, 1955, p18. A national TV audience was unable to see the announcement of the final decision, because one of the judges, Joe Blink, had difficulty in adding up his scorecard, in what "Sports Illustrated" described as "the long, long count" (SI, October 31, 1955, pp12-13). ]

However, In 1956, after losing 3-straight non-title bouts, Smith lost his title in an upset to Joe Brown. Smith went on to fight two more years; ending his career after losing 11 straight fights, half by knockout.

Life after boxing

Smith started hanging out in his neighborhood, wearing a cowboy hat and talking about making a comeback. The years passed by, and Smith dropped out of the public spotlight. His life was far from an easy one, but the good-natured Smith was a popular figure in his neighborhood.

Murder

On July 11, 1973, Smith was talking to a female friend on a public street when a car drove by and someone opened fire with a gun. A number of bullets hit the former champion and he fell to the sidewalk dead. It later transpired that the intended victim was the female Smith had been talking to.

External links

* [http://www.boxrec.com/print.php?boxer_id=029014 Career Record]