How good was Gunboat Smith?

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I dont think beating Wells is anything that would lend to the word "stellar." Wells was absolutely worshipped in Britain but why I cannot fathom. I have several of his fights and he was not a very good fighter on top of the fact that he had one of the weakest chins Ive ever seen. I also dont think much of his fight with Smith, seeing as how felt compelled to take the easy way out. His bouts with Klaus and Papke were massacres. We have the Klaus fight and it was man against boy. Georges simply could not cope with Klaus strength and aggression, the papke fight was almost identical and at that point Papke was well past his best. The Jeannette fight is one that has been debated here ad naseum so I wont get into that. Ive said it before and Ill say it again: Carpentier was probably the most IMPORTANT european fighter ever. He wasnt close to being the BEST european fighter ever.

 

Glad to see Jess being seen positively on this thread. He had decent boxing skills, on top of everything else you mention.

Smith is described as also more than a guy with a good right; that is, he had boxing skills.

A fuller description would be appreciated from anyone. Thanks.

 

I can see your argument with Dillon, Levinsky and Clark, but why have you found an apreciation for Coffey?

 

I think for a long time Levinsky was overrated as well. Part of his legacy was his longevity but when you start digging through the reports his longevity was only extended by the ND era. This was because a ton of his fights he simply showed up and tried not to get knocked out. From about 1918 on I dont really consider Levinsky anything special. In his prime he was very good but he was always kind of hot and cold and that got a lot worse as his career went on.

Dillon is a tough nut to crack also. He was definately a force but he was so protected in Indiana. You might as well mark an "L" on your record the second you crossed the state line to face him. His record is also very padded. His decline was also one of the most rapid you will ever see. It was like Roy Jones. One minute he was an elite fighter and the next minute he was a tomatoe can.

 

Coffey perks you up in the morning !

 

Burt, this Coffey could put you to sleep too. I think I'v read all his fight reports and he was just about the best boxer of the so-called White hopes, big eneough and fast too,but he was definetly chinny.
Smith, a then useful Pelkey, Morris, Levinsky, Brennan, Rodel, Ross, Flynn, Morris were all handled well but while he out-boxed Moran easy in a title eliminator, he couldn't cope with MaryAnne.
He cleaned out a slew of second raters and Willard seemed not to want any part of him. Strangly he is never mentioned now but he was seen as a top contender for several years. his record and written accounts at the time put him well up there with Smith and Moran at the top of the tree, perhaps his lack of a marque win hits him hard in a historical context.

 

Matt,sorry I tried a bad pun, about Coffey, but caffiene got the better of me...
When I think of Jim Coffey,I get him mixed up with another "White Hope"of that long ago era, Tom Cowler.Tom Cowler was touted as the next heavyweight champion, by no less a person than Jim Corbett.Cowler was a protege of Corbett,kod 46 out of 55 wins,and he could punch...But the
aptly named "Jack Dillon", much smaller than Cowler kod ,Tom in the 2nd rd
and exposed big Tom as not being championship material..An odd thing Matt
is that Jim Coffey from Ireland and Tom Cowler never met in the ring.
Two big White Hopes fighting at the same time...Cheers m...

 

Burt, understantd perfectly but Coffey was far better than Cowler. BTW Corbett could'nt pick a winner out of a hat, pick out the lable most likely!

 

I agree M. Wasn't trying to compare the two fighters, but it was odd that these two White Hopes,both from across the pond, never hooked up.
But the best of the "white hopes",was the tragic Luther McCarty...

 

All I know is whoever nicknamed Smith "Gunboat" probably enhanced his drawing and earning power exponentially. What a great nickname.

 

It sounds quite menacing,but actually referred to the size of his feet.

 

Im reading ''In this corner'' 40 ex boxers give interviews and by far gunboats chapter is the best so far.Is there film of him in the ring?

Mickey walker too has a chapter but isnt he known to tell tales?

 

What did you think about him alleging that the fix was in for the Johnson-Jeffries fight until the night before the fight when Jack informed Jim "no dice"... Is that credible? I have asked this question before but no one seems to have any more info or insight outside that Smith could be a real *****.