James Smith (boxer)

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James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith
Career Snapshot
Born	April 3, 1953
Died
Total Fights	62
Won	44
Lost	17
Draws	1
Knockouts	32
Titles Won	WBA Heavyweight 1986-1987

James (Bonecrusher) Smith (born April 3, 1953) is a former American boxer who was briefly heavyweight champion in the late 1980s. He was the first heavyweight champion with a college degree (Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko later achieved this distinction as well).

After serving in the military (where he first played around with boxing in the gym) and working as a prison guard, Smith competed in a few amateur fights before turning professional in November 1981, at the late age of 28.

He lost his first fight against James "Broad-Axe" Broad, a vastly experienced world class amateur who was 2-0 as a pro. The fight was broadcast on ESPN, and Smith had come in on short notice and was not in great shape, looking out of depth against the skilled Broad. Smith was dropped in 4 rounds with body shots, and counted out.

The following year Smith was lined up as an opponent for future cruiserweight world champion Ricky Parkey, then 2-0 as a pro, however scored an upset by winning a 6 round points decision.

After scoring two knockouts, Smith followed up the Parkey win with another upset, an 8 round points decision over Chris McDonald, who was 8-0-1 as a pro and had been a top amateur. Smith was now 4-1 (2 KOs).

He went on to score nine straight knockouts, before travelling to the UK in 1984 to fight a world title eliminator against the hard hitting undefeated British prospect Frank Bruno, who was 21-0 (and had squashed all 21 victims by KO). Once again Bonecrusher would throw a spanner in the works, having been outboxed with relative ease by Bruno for the first nine rounds, he unleashed a devastating salvo of power punches to kayo Bruno in the tenth and final round (the only time in his long career the future world heavyweight champion Bruno would be counted out). Having started his career on a dud, Smith had completely turned his career around and now qualified for a world title shot.

This came in November of 1984 against the long reigning Larry Holmes for the IBF heavyweight championship. Holmes was 35 now, but had an intimidating record of 45-0 and had won no less than eighteen straight world title fights. After giving Holmes a hellish struggle and rocking him several times, a waning Smith was stopped on advice of the doctor in the 12th round, due to a bad cut. He was behind on points.

Smith came back in 1985 relegated to fighting on Don King undercards. He lost a 10 round decision to 19-0 future world champ Tony Tubbs in an eliminator, won a 10 round decision over 18-1 Cuban contender Jose Ribalta, but then dropped a 12 round decision to ex-world champ Tim Witherspoon in a bid for Witherspoons NABF belt.

1986 started no better as he dropped Marvis Frazier, son of all time great Smokin' Joe Frazier, as well as breaking his jaw, however still lost the 10 round decision. At this time Bonecrusher began consulting a psychiatrist who advised him "The ring is your domain- DEFEND YOUR TERRITORY!"

He took the mantra to heart. In his next fight he demolished highly regarded ex-world champ Mike Weaver in one round. He followed it up with two 10 round decisions over equally dangerous contenders- Jesse Ferguson in Bermuda, and David Bey.

In December of 1986, while preparing for a fight with the erratic Mitch "Blood" Green, Don King informed him at short notice that Tony Tubbs had dropped out of his upcoming challenge to reigning WBA champ Tim Witherspoon, and now Smith would be getting the shot, his second world title fight.

Knowing of Witherspoons mental weariness and lack of passion due to a never ending war with King, and with a million dollar shot at WBC champ Mike Tyson looming for the winner, Smith recognized this as the chance of a lifetime. That night in December at Madison Square Garden, Smith came out like the poverbial house on fire, dropping the usually durable Witherspoon three times in the opening round, scoring a shock first round knockout and winning the WBA title!

In March of 1987 Smith put up his WBA belt against Tysons WBC belt in Las Vegas as part of Don King and HBOs unification tournement. That night Tyson came out throwing bombs, and Smith was reduced to excessive holding. He lost nearly every round in a boring fight. However it was in the final 30 seconds of the fight that Smith finally decided to let his hands go. A desperation right hand seemed to freeze Tyson, yet it was too late. Smith lost his world title on a wide points decision.

He returned to the ring a few months later to clear his name. He took on Brazillian contender Adilson Rodriguez in Sao Paulo, but dropped a very controversial decision to Rodriguez.

He returned in 1988 at the age of 35, but his comeback fight with journeyman Mike Rouse ended on a three round technical draw after Rouse suffered a bad cut from an accidental headbutt.

Back again in 1989, now aged 36, he took on the young power-punching Jamaican Donovan (Razor) Ruddock. Smiths own punch power was still evident as he decked Ruddock hard in the 2nd round, but seemed to punch himself out trying to finish Ruddock, who was a crafty survivor. The next few rounds saw Smith tire, as Ruddocks youth and power overwhelmed him, knocking him clean out in the 7th round for the full 10 count. Ruddock would go on to become a star and feature in several high profile fights. Smiths career appeared to be over. He announced his retirement after the loss and said he would now pursue politics.

Unsurprisingly Smith was back in the ring only two months later, where he broke journeyman Calvin Jones jaw and scored a knockout in 8 rounds. He followed it up with three more knockouts before being matched with former victim Mike Weaver in a battle of hard hitting ex-champs, on a high profile 1990 card in New York. This time Smith was resigned to having to win a dull 12 round points decision over Weaver, although he did score a knockdown in a brief moment of excitement. He also earned the supurflous WBA Americas belt, and a world ranking.

After a year layoff he was back, now aged 38, and scored six knockouts, including a notable 8 round knockout of the cement-skulled journeyman Everett (Bigfoot) Martin (who had just taken George Foreman the distance), and a first round knockout of equally hard hitting ex-contender Jeff Sims.

However he lost his world ranking and all his momentum in November of 1991 when he travelled to California and dropped a shock 10 round decision to local Levi Billups. Although Billups had a patchy 15-5 record, he was a small and awkward heavyweight who could hit hard and had scored several upsets. Smith looked under-prepared as he was banged around and generally outhustled by Billups. He rallied to knockdown the underdog in the 9th, however it was too little too late.

Still active in 1992, now aged 39 and with a 33-9-1 record, Smith regained some credibility with a 10 round decision over dangerous Mark Wills. His old agitator Don King gave him another opportunity on one of his udnercards and matched him with fellow ageing warhorse Greg Page, in a battle of two ex-champs lingering around the top 10. In the opening round Bonecrusher tried rush Page as he had done Witherspoon, however was decked himself for his efforts, and was outpunched easily by Page over the 10 round distance.

In 1993 Smith was matched with feared #1 contender Michael Moorer. Moorer wisely chose to rely on his defense and not trade with Smith, who still packed a punch, whilst Smith wisely chose to not press the issue too much against the far younger and power punching southpaw. Unfortunately the tactics were less beneficial to the paying audience, who jeered the two passive fighters through to the 10 round finish, where Smith lost a lopsided decision.

It seemed at this point Smith was boxing now purely for the payday. He competed in the One-Night Heavyweight Tournement in Bay St Louis, where a group of heavies of varying quality would fight a series of 3 round fights with the winner being awarded one million dollars. He beat Lester Jackson and Marshall Tillman, before losing in the semi-final to Romanian prospect Dan Dancuta. Smiths old buddy Tony (TNT) Tubbs eventually won.

In 1994 he was matched with power punching Tyson-lookalike Lionel Butler, who was highly ranked and on a red hot string of knockouts. Smith looked too old as he collapsed in 3 rounds, having offered little resistance. Later that year he travelled to Germany to drop a points decision to local Axel Schulz, and then Denmark where he was stopped in 5 rounds due to a cut from a headbutt, courtesy of obese local Brian Nielsen. Smith was overweight for both of these fights, and his days as a contender were definitely over.

He fought on and off for a few more years. In 1998 he travelled to Australia to battle fellow relic Joe Bugner for an obscure belt, but had to retire after one round when his shoulder popped out. The same injury ended a fight in 1999 with yet another relic, old buddy Larry Holmes. After this Smith finally saw sense and hung up the gloves, aged 46 and with a respectable record of 44-17-1 (32 KOs).

After his retirement from boxing, Smith became an ordained minister and dedicated his life to helping young people stay clear of crime and drugs.

In 2002 Smith started the non-profit organization Champion For Kinds Inc. to provide scholarships to highschool students. www.championforkids.org

Smith began working as a recruiter and the Director of Intramural Athletics for Sandhills Community College in June 2005 (link).

Preceded by: Tim Witherspoon

Heavyweight boxing champion (WBA) 1986–1987

Succeeded by: Mike Tyson