Ishe Smith
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| Ishe Smith | ||
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Born | July 22, 1978 | |
| Birthplace | Las Vegas, USA | |
| Nationality | American | |
| Residence | Las Vegas, USA | |
| Height | 5' 10" | |
| Classification | Light Middleweight | |
| Nickname | Sugar Shay | |
| Boxing Record | ||
| Fights | 20 | |
| Wins (KOs) | 18 (8) | |
| Losses | 2 | |
| Draws | 0 | |
| Results on The Contender | ||
| First Round | Beat Khaddour on points | |
| Quarter Finals | Lost to Mora on points | |
| Fans Favourite | Beat Bonsante on points | |
Ishe Oluwa Buni kula shane Kamau Ali "Sugar Shay" Smith (b. July 22, 1978, Las Vegas) is a professional boxer, and was a competitor on the first season of the reality TV show The Contender.
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[edit] Personal life
A devoted Christian, Ishe and his wife LaToya, have been compared to Rocky and his wife Adrian.[citation needed] They have one son. Smith was declared bankrupt after run-ins with certain agents and managers, but has come back with the teetotal religious zeal that saw him unbeaten in his first four years as a professional. He wears Psalm 27 (Psalms 27) on the back of his shorts. "ishe oluwa" in the yoruba language means gods work.
The Smith family was joined by the youngest member of the family Ajani Smith, a boy, when Latoya Smith gave birth on February 2, 2006.
[edit] Boxing career
Smith's career highlight may be taking three minor vacant titles in one fight; the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight title, the vacant USBA Welterweight title and the vacant WBO NABO Welterweight title.
[edit] The Contender
He beat Alfonso Gomez in 2001, and the two became roommates when they were contestants on reality TV show The Contender. On the show, he was placed on the West Coast team and fought his rival Ahmed Khaddour in the third episode's fight, a bout which was steel-tipped by the pair's frosty relationship. Smith also did not enamour himself to Anthony Bonsante, who he criticised for fighting someone he wasn't meant to - despite the bout having no bearing on Smith's standing in the competition.
When Juan de la Rosa was medically disqualified at the end of the first round fight, certain other boxers bought back Khaddour, a tactic employed to get under Smith's skin. After Brinkley criticised him for speaking his mind too often and being intimidated by him, Brinkley selected him to fight Sergio Mora, the tournament's eventual winner - which he lost to by split decision. He then faced his nemesis Bonsante in a Fans Favourite Fight, and despite suffering illegal moves, won a unanimous decision.
[edit] Post Contender
Since The Contender, he has criticized the show's management company for trying to force him to fight Jesse Brinkley at a severe weight disadvantage for a relatively small fight purse. A natural welterweight, Smith feels that he should be allowed to drop back down to a lower weight class and fight more rounds against opponents outside The Contender in preparation for an eventual title shot or be allowed out of the show's management contract as Contender contestants Ahmed Khaddour and Jimmy Lange, among others, have been.
Ishe Smith won his arbitration trial earlier this year and got out of the Contender promotions to sign a contract with Oscar de la Hoya' Golden Boy Promotions. Ishe Smith has been under Bernard Hopkins' guidance since he joined Golden Boy Promotions. He had stated that he is very happy with the Golden Boy Promotions.
He was featured on a June 7 fight card promoted by Bernard Hopkins on ESPN Friday Night Fight, where he dominated his opponent Patrick Thompson through 10 rounds to get a unanimous decision. He fought at 154 lbs, in the junior middleweight division, which is considered a division with a ton of opportunities for young prospects at this time.
After the June 7 fight, Ishe Smith is in the talks to fight Sechew Powell, a major junior middleweight contender. Ishe Smith is currently scheduled to fight at least 2 more fights in 2006. Sechew Powell did not fight Ishe Smith but is scheduled to fight the more higher ranked fighter Kasim 'The Dream' Ouma. Powell fought Ouma and was outclassed, losing a unanimous decision on the undercard of the Quartey vs. Forrest fight. Ishe Smith called out the world wide known boxer to be 'ducked' Antonio Margarito, this was a publicity stunt to find bigger fights such as the world pound 4 pound fighter Floyd Mayweather, who is considered a far greater fighter than Smith. Ishe smith moved to welterweight a division with the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto this will prove a test for Ishe 'Sugar Shay' Smith to see if he can bring boxing 'to a whole new level' as he had claimed.
[edit] Golden Boy Promotions
After Golden Boy Promotions signed numerous other fighters including many former and current champions, Ishe Smith had become idle because Golden Boy Promotions are holding cards to feature more known names than Ishe Smith. Smith was frustrated by this and made a statement saying that he is considering joining the UFC, because he is a desperate need of a fight.Golden Boy has not commented on the comments made by Ishe smith yet.
[edit] Future career
Ishe smith lost his scheduled fight vs Sechew Powell by a unanimous decision despite scoring a knock down on February 17, 2007.
