Gunboat Smith vs. Jack Johnson - 1914

I seem to remember that Smith could really hit, so anything is possible I guess. That said you'd have to favour JJ.

 

Confused !! we talkin bout Fulton or Smith ?

 

In1915 Smith lost to
Wienert177lbs
Dillon170lbs
In1916 Smith lost to
Dillon by ko
Jim Coffey
Carl Morris
I see no reason to suppose Smith could beat even a "gone backJohnson".
Toxie Hall floored Marciano with a left hook when Rocky was preparing to defend against Cockell, Should Rocky have given him a title shot?

 

Hi Buddy.
Bit of a character ole Gunboat, you might know matey, was he called Gunboat because of the size of his feet, or due to his naval service ?
On the Ketchell/Johnson fight " it was all a set up, Ketchell and Jack were friends, after the " fight " they went out that night and played craps, Stan took $500 of the negro " excuse me , but using the wording of the quote, such was the parlance of the day unfortunately.
stay safe hombre.

 

I readily admit to being smitten by the Gunner ever since I bought the Boxing Illustrated two-part interview hot off the newstand at our local pharmacy in 1963 (or '64?). I still have those magazines somewhere around the house. They were among the first boxing purchases I ever made. So, on the basis of that research I give Smith shot at beating Johnson who wasn't all that impressive against Jim Johnson or Frank Moran at the time. When cornered, I'd have to go with Johnson, but the soft spot in my heart (and maybe my head!!) gives the sailor boy a chance. If I can't be irrational about one of my favorites, what's the use of living?

 

That would’ve been a great read. I’ve read the chapter on Gunboat in Peter Hellers book IN THIS CORNER - and he was quite the character as someone already stated.

Though not identified - I’m pretty sure this is Smith wrestling and then sparring with Jack Johnson. They both appear as southpaws but the original film has simply been reversed.

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I always read it was about the size of his feet.

 

Interesting point about it may have been Gunboat .. not sure but by the looks does not seem impossible ... someone here might be able to verify ... in all the years I've seen different quality versions of the clip I've never heard got mentioned as such ..

 

Actually, I've felt for a long time that there's a fair resemblance to Smith in terms of both face and build. To narrow it a bit more, I "think" this is footage of Johnson in prep. for his fight with Ketchel in Colma, Cal. - for which of course he had Smith as a sparring partner. I felt vindicated when I found an Aussie site that held the clip - and they also deduced that it was a good possibility that it was Gunboat Smith.

I'll check and see if I can link the site in question.

 

Okay, that wasn't so hard to dig back for, for a change.

First, this is 1) the clip. If you scroll down a bit you will see on the left under External Links, "Jack Johnson in training" underscored. Click that and it takes you to background notes re the film - very detailed notes I will say also. I've directly linked that html page below anyway (see 2).

1) https://aso.gov.au/titles/historical/jack-johnson-training/

2) http://www.apex.net.au/~tmj/mp/johnson-training.htm

 

I remember reading Gunboat Smith's chapter in Peter Heller's "In This Corner" and it was one of the most interesting chapters in the whole book. He really provides a lot of insight on the White Hope Era from someone who was up close and personal to it all. And interestingly he and Johnson got along quite well. Some of what the Gunboat said may need to be taken with a grain of salt, but he certainly comes across as an and interesting and colorful character. The boxer who is wrestling and sparring with Johnson looks enough like the Gunboat that I could easily believe that it was in fact him.

Around 1914 Smith was good enough to have a victory over Sam Langford, although in the abovementioned chapter he admits that he wasn't any good afterward. Gunboat was a very good puncher, so he would have at least a puncher's chance or better. The 1914 version of Johnson was still good enough to win a 20 rounder from Frank Moran and I would expect a bout against Gunboat to follow the same pattern.

 

Is the footage before Ketchel because Smith was starting out and active in the Bay Area in the fall of 09 ... he does look like him .. possible ..

 

I love that film. Johnson's moving around looks almost as good as Greb does in the only film we have of ole' Harry.