Gunboat Smith

Edward "Gunboat" Smith (February 17, 1887 – August 6, 1974) was an Irish American boxer, film actor and later a boxing referee. During his career, Smith faced twelve different Boxing Hall of Famers a combined total of 23 times. Among the all-time greats he faced were Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb, Sam Langford, and Georges Carpentier.

Boxing career


Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent much of his youth in orphanages, working on farms and on the railroads. He joined the U.S. Navy, where he began boxing and won the heavyweight championship of the Pacific Fleet.

In 1910, Smith became known in the Oakland and San Francisco areas by serving as a sparring partner for Jack Johnson and Stanley Ketchel before their heavyweight title fight there. Author Jack London knew Smith and helped fund his training.

From 1912–1915, Smith established himself as a leading candidate for the heavyweight title, beating, among others, British and British Empire champion Bombardier Billy Wells and future world champion Jess Willard, and beating and losing to Sam Langford in two fights. He fought many other ranked fighters, but before his death, Smith was asked to name the greatest fighter he ever met. His response: Langford, in his words, “The best of all of them.”

In 1914, Smith won the World White Heavyweight Championship. This title, created by boxing promoters due to the unpopularity of the black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, was never widely recognized. He lost the "title" to Georges Carpentier later that year in a bout with a purse of 9,000 pounds sterling.

After 1916, Smith's career suffered a decline; in 1917, he suffered a loss by decision to future champion Jack Dempsey in a hotly contested four-round fight. A year later, he was knocked to the canvas 9 times by Dempsey, suffering a one-sided second-round knock out.

In 1920 and 1921, Smith suffered a string of KO losses and retired after suffering a one-round knockout to the great heavyweight contender Harry Wills. He finished with a record of 81 wins, 46 losses, and 13 draws, a total of 140 bouts. “Not a great record on paper,” Dave Allen remarked, “but one that becomes much more impressive when you take into consideration that he fought the very best of his era.”

Smith was lean and scrappy, an excellent boxer who moved well and hit sharply with both hands. Among the men he defeated were Willard, Langford, Wells, Battling Levinsky, Carl Morris, Frank Moran, and Fireman Jim Flynn.

Professional boxing record

 * style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|52 Wins (38 Knockouts), 28 Defeats (12 Knockouts), 10 Draws, 1 No Contest
 * - style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Res.
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Record
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Type
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Rd., Time
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Location
 * style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Notes
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 52-28-10
 * align=left| Harry Wills
 * KO
 * 1 (20), 1:07
 * 1921-10-10
 * align=left|Stadium, Havana, Cuba
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 52-27-10
 * align=left| Bob Martin
 * KO
 * 3 (10)
 * 1921-05-30
 * align=left|Huntington, West Virginia
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 52-26-10
 * align=left| Al Roberts
 * KO
 * 10 (12)
 * 1921-03-09
 * align=left|Commonwealth Sporting Club, New York, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 52-25-10
 * align=left| Harry Greb
 * KO
 * 1 (10)
 * 1920-10-21
 * align=left|Springbrook Park, South Bend, Indiana
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Bob Roper
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1920-09-06
 * align=left|Springbrook Park, Fort Worth, Texas
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * 52-24-10
 * align=left| Bob Roper
 * PTS
 * 15
 * 1920-08-09
 * align=left|Columbus, Ohio
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Texas Tate
 * NWS
 * 12
 * 1920-08-03
 * align=left|Panther Park, Fort Worth, Texas
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Chuck Wiggins
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1920-07-15
 * align=left|Ramona Baseball Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Tony Melchior
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1920-06-26
 * align=left|Ramona Baseball Park, East Chicago, Indiana
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 52-24-9
 * align=left| Lee Anderson
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1920-05-13
 * align=left|San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 52-23-9
 * align=left| Fred Fulton
 * KO
 * 2 (10)
 * 1920-04-07
 * align=left|Milwaukie Coliseum, Milwaukie, Oregon
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 52-22-9
 * align=left| Andre Anderson
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1920-03-10
 * align=left|American Legion A.A, Fresno, California
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 51-22-9
 * align=left| Bill Tate
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1920-02-25
 * align=left|Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 51-21-9
 * align=left| Willie Meehan
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1920-02-04
 * align=left|Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 50-21-9
 * align=left| Carl Morris
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1920-01-23
 * align=left|American Legion A.A, Fresno, California
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * 49-21-9
 * align=left| Ole Anderson
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1919-12-11
 * align=left|San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * 49-21-8
 * align=left| Carl Morris
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1919-12-03
 * align=left|Oakland Auditorium, Oakland
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 49-21-7
 * align=left| Fat LaRue
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1919-11-19
 * align=left|Oakland Auditorium, Oakland
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-21-7
 * align=left| Frank Farmer
 * PTS
 * 6
 * 1919-11-05
 * align=left|Seattle Arena, Seattle, Washington
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-20-7
 * align=left| Noel "Boy" McCormick
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1919-10-30
 * align=left|San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-19-7
 * align=left| K.O. Kruvosky
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1919-10-23
 * align=left|San Francisco Coliseum, San Francisco
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-18-7
 * align=left| Jack Dempsey
 * KO
 * 2 (8)
 * 1918-12-30
 * align=left|Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Billy Miske
 * NWS
 * 8
 * 1918-07-12
 * align=left|International League Ballpark, Jersey City, New Jersey
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * 48-17-7
 * align=left| Tom McMahon
 * PTS
 * 15
 * 1918-07-04
 * align=left|Highland Park, Dayton, Ohio
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Leo Houck
 * NWS
 * 6
 * 1918-05-27
 * align=left|Erne Club, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-17-6
 * align=left| Billy Miske
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 1918-04-12
 * align=left|Atlanta Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Clay Turner
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1918-04-01
 * align=left|Majestic Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Hugh Walker
 * NWS
 * 12
 * 1918-03-08
 * align=left|Joplin, Missouri
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Emmett Kid Wagner
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1918-02-18
 * align=left|Majestic Theatre, Wilkes-Barre
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-16-6
 * align=left| Charley Weinert
 * PTS
 * 12
 * 1918-01-09
 * align=left|Marieville Gardens, North Providence, Rhode Island
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-15-6
 * align=left| Fred Fulton
 * TKO
 * 7 (10)
 * 1917-11-27
 * align=left|Arcadia Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-14-6
 * align=left| Jack Dempsey
 * PTS
 * 4
 * 1917-10-02
 * align=left|Recreation Park, San Francisco
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Frank Moran
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1917-09-07
 * align=left|St. Nicholas Arena, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Kid Norfolk
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1917-08-20
 * align=left|Airdome A.C., Rochester, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Bill Tate
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1917-08-10
 * align=left|Brown's Gym A.A., Queens, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * N/A
 * align=left| Kid Norfolk
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1917-08-03
 * align=left|Urban Liberty Park, Buffalo
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jack Clifford
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1917-06-02
 * align=left|Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * N/A
 * align=left| Bob McAllister
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1917-05-29
 * align=left|Pioneer Sporting Club, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-13-6
 * align=left| Jack Dillon
 * PTS
 * 20
 * 1917-02-16
 * align=left|Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * 48-12-6
 * align=left| Jack Moran
 * PTS
 * 12
 * 1917-01-31
 * align=left|Saint Louis, Missouri
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Battling Levinsky
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1917-01-01
 * align=left|Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Tom Cowler
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-12-25
 * align=left|Flower City A.C., Rochester, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Frank Moran
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-12-18
 * align=left|Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 48-12-5
 * align=left| Battling Levinsky
 * PTS
 * 12
 * 1917-01-01
 * align=left|Arena (Armory A.A.), Brooklyn
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Joe Cox
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-10-03
 * align=left|Broadway Arena, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Tom Cowler
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-09-26
 * align=left|Broadway Arena, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jim Coffey
 * NWS
 * 6
 * 1916-09-23
 * align=left|National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 48-11-5
 * align=left| Cleve Hawkins
 * TKO
 * 3 (10)
 * 1916-09-18
 * align=left|Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Tom McMahon
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-07-10
 * align=left|Rochester, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 47-11-5
 * align=left| Arthur Pelkey
 * PTS
 * 8
 * 1916-06-07
 * align=left|Phoenix A.C., Memphis, Tennessee
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Battling Levinsky
 * NWS
 * 6
 * 1916-05-15
 * align=left|Olympia A.C., Philadelphia
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Bob Devere
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-04-28
 * align=left|Syracuse Arena, Syracuse, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 46-11-5
 * align=left| Carl Morris
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 1916-05-15
 * align=left|Tulsa, Oklahoma
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Dan Flynn
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-03-30
 * align=left|Manhattan Opera House, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jack Dillon
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1916-03-14
 * align=left|Broadway Arena, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 46-10-5
 * align=left| Jim Coffey
 * KO
 * 4 (10), 1:55
 * 1915-11-29
 * align=left|Madison Square Garden, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Joe Cox
 * NWS
 * 8
 * 1915-11-09
 * align=left|Saint Louis Coliseum, Saint Louis
 * align=left|Newspaper Decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 46-9-5
 * align=left| Colin Bell
 * PTS
 * 10
 * 1915-10-07
 * align=left|Sohmer Park, Montreal, Quebec
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Al Reich
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-10-04
 * align=left|St. Nicholas Arena, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Sailor Jack Carroll
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-09-04
 * align=left|Broadway S.C, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jack Hemple
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-08-18
 * align=left|St. Nicholas Arena, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Tom Cowler
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-07-28
 * align=left|St. Nicholas Arena, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Charley Weinert
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-07-01
 * align=left|Ebbets Field, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Dick Gilbert
 * NWS
 * 12
 * 1915-05-10
 * align=left|National A.C, Denver, Colorado
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 46-8-5
 * align=left| Tom McCarty
 * PTS
 * 12
 * 1915-04-20
 * align=left|Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston, Massachusetts
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Charley Weinert
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-04-13
 * align=left|Broadway Arena, Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jack Reed
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-03-27
 * align=left|Irving A.C., Brooklyn
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jack Dillon
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-03-16
 * align=left|Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Fireman Jim Flynn
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1915-02-01
 * align=left|Cincinnati, Ohio
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 45-8-5
 * align=left| Battling Levinsky
 * PTS
 * 20
 * 1915-01-27
 * align=left|Greenwall Theater, New Orleans
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
 * 44-8-5
 * align=left| Battling Levinsky
 * PTS
 * 12
 * 1915-01-01
 * align=left|Waterbury Auditorium, Waterbury, Connecticut
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 44-8-4
 * align=left| Chick Carsey
 * TKO
 * 3 (10)
 * 1914-12-28
 * align=left|Long Acre A.C, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 43-8-4
 * align=left| Tom McCarty
 * TKO
 * 4 (10)
 * 1914-12-23
 * align=left|Manhattan Casino, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jim Coffey
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1914-12-15
 * align=left|Madison Square Garden, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 42-8-4
 * align=left| Sam Langford
 * KO
 * 3 (12)
 * 1914-10-20
 * align=left|Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * N/A
 * align=left| Battling Levinsky
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1914-10-09
 * align=left|Manhattan Casino, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Cyclone Johnny Thompson
 * NWS
 * 6
 * 1914-09-28
 * align=left|Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Loss
 * 42-7-4
 * align=left| Georges Carpentier
 * DQ
 * 6 (20)
 * 1914-07-16
 * align=left|Olympia, Kensington, London
 * align=left|Lost "White" heavyweight title
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| Jack Blackburn
 * NWS
 * 6
 * 1914-05-20
 * align=left|National A.C., Philadelphia
 * align=left|Newspaper decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 42-6-4
 * align=left| Arthur Pelkey
 * TKO
 * 15 (20)
 * 1914-01-01
 * align=left|Coffroth's Arena, Daly City, California
 * align=left|Won "White" heavyweight title
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 41-6-4
 * align=left| Sam Langford
 * PTS
 * 12
 * 1913-11-17
 * align=left|Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 40-6-4
 * align=left| Charley Miller
 * KO
 * 3 (10)
 * 1913-10-31
 * align=left|Atlantic Garden A.C, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 39-6-4
 * align=left| Tony Ross
 * KO
 * 10 (12), 1:30
 * 1913-10-21
 * align=left|Arena (Atlas A.A.), Boston
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 38-6-4
 * align=left| Carl Morris
 * DQ
 * 5 (10)
 * 1913-10-09
 * align=left|Madison Square Garden, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 37-6-4
 * align=left| Fireman Jim Flynn
 * TKO
 * 5 (10)
 * 1913-08-08
 * align=left|Madison Square Garden, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 36-6-4
 * align=left| George Rodel
 * TKO
 * 3 (10)
 * 1913-06-27
 * align=left|Madison Square Garden, New York
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 35-6-4
 * align=left| Jess Willard
 * PTS
 * 20
 * 1913-05-20
 * align=left|Eighth Street Arena, San Francisco
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * N/A
 * align=left| George Rodel
 * NWS
 * 10
 * 1913-04-11
 * align=left|New Amsterdam Opera House, New York
 * align=left|Newspaper Decision
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 34-6-4
 * align=left| Fred McKay
 * KO
 * 2 (10)
 * 1913-04-02
 * align=left|Fairmont A.C., Brooklyn
 * align=left|
 * - align=center
 * Win
 * 33-6-4
 * align=left| Bombardier Billy Wells
 * KO
 * 2 (10)
 * 1913-03-14
 * align=left|Madison Square Garden, New York
 * align=left|

After boxing
After his retirement, Smith went on to have a variety of jobs: runner on Wall Street, private policeman at Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium, and an actor in several small roles in silent films, including The Great Gatsby and Wings, the first Academy Award-winner for Best Picture. He also refereed boxing matches, such as the Harry Greb vs. Tiger Flowers middleweight championship bout in 1926 and the controversial Max Schmeling vs. Jack Sharkey return heavyweight championship contest in 1932.

He died in 1974 in Florida.

Partial filmography

 * Manhattan (1924) - Joe Madden
 * The Shock Punch (1925) - Terrence O'Rourke
 * Lovers in Quarantine (1925) - Sailor Sheldon
 * The Fear Fighter (1925) - Prison Inmate
 * Lovers in Quarantine (1925) - Minor Role (uncredited)
 * Bashful Buccaneer (1925)
 * Let's Get Married (1926) - Slattery
 * The Arizona Streak  (1926) - Jim
 * Say It Again (1926) - Gunner Jones
 * The Great Gatsby (1926) - Bert
 * Wings (1927) - The Sergeant
 * We're All Gamblers (1927) - Gunboat
 * The City Gone Wild (1927) - Policeman
 * Midnight Rose (1928) - Casey