How Good was Gunboat Smith?

You got that one right.

Gunboat Smith can be viewed as the 1st or 2nd best white hope up to 1914. The other was likely McCarty. Ironic, the two best white hopes never got a lineal title shot.

 

Langford was 20 years old and 156 pounds when he meet Johnson. Johnson had 30 pounds on him, and a lot more experience at heavyweight.

 

Good enough to beat that sluggish giant Willard, and good enough to fight greats like jack dempsey, Sam langford, and carpentier, but not good enough to beat the best of his era. Good enough to have a Wikipedia page though, that' how you really know you made it

 

Gunboat Smith was an above average heavyweight and had a good right cross. He did well against Willard and Moran, due to styles. Based on his record, I don't feel that Smith was durable. He supposedly dropped Jack Johnson in a sparring session (or maybe it was an exhibition). I don't put much value into that. Marciano was dropped by Toxie Hall in a sparring session. Joe Louis was supposedly dropped by Walcott in a sparring session. Sometimes you just get caught with a good punch.

 

McCarty was offered one in Canada in April1913, his promoter turned it down and matched him with Pelkey instead! Ironic?
McCarty was only in the frame from August 1912 until May 1913 when he was killed.
Smith was a leading contender from December 1912 when he beat Moran until July 1914 when Carpentier beat him.
The best of the White Hopes was perceived to be Al Kaufman whom Johnson so dominated he was relegated to sparring partner status, Langford refused to fight him!"

 

>>> Show me the source when your return from being booted. Kaufman perceived as the best of the white hope? Hardly!

 

Kaufman was probably the number one White Hope in 1909.

 

Not intending to praise Smith, but the 3rd bout was officially given to him by referee Bert McCollough. The result listed by boxrec is an error.
Smith also fairly won their 1st fight, but lost the 2nd one ("It was give and take for the first six rounds. At the opening of the seventh the sailor began to weaken after a hard blow over the heart. Geyer took advantage of all this and the slumber pill was landed at the opening of the ninth, when Gunboat made his last stand.").

 

Based on his performance with Jack Johnson, I'd side with Jack O'Brien. O'Brien also TKO's Kaufman in 1905.

Kaufman wasn't very good, but in 1909 he was in his prime, so you could be right.

Smith, McCarty, Willard, and Moran to me were better than the cautious and mildly skilled Kaufman.

 

In 1909???

 

Smith must have had something going for him because he had some decent performances on his record but he doesn't look like much in the footage of him. All elbows and knees and a very archaic style he fights like a more primitive more awkward Jess Willard.

 

Which footage are you going on? Gunboat Smith can be seen sparring with Johnson, but wasn't he a very raw novice at the time? Where else can he be viewed on film?

I agree he was one of those lanky awkward types, but that doesn't mean he wasn't active or accurate. From 1912-1914 the best talents were a bit older, so you could say his prime came at a good time for him.

 

So like Max Baer then... Sorry, I just had to.

 

Seen a bit of harmless sparring footage of him, not enough to form any opinion.

 

He makes Baer look like Sugar Ray Robinson.