Smith was good but also flawed........ But prior to 1990, he was a contender who deserved some respect and credit........... Again, Smith's peak was indeed 1986........ It was the greatest year of his career......... In 1987, Smith went to hell in boxing, yet made a lot of money........ His loss to Tyson on HBO sucked huge ass.... I, as did the rest of the world, expected a lot more from them two in their encounter for the WBC / WBA title......... I rarely review the tape cuz the fight sucked so bad....... Smith's loss to Adilson Rodrigues was horrid.......... I don't care if Angie Dundee trained Rodrigues or not,I thought Rodrigues was a stinky fighter who also sucked ass............ The last fight in which Smith had a chance to do something was in his 1990 rematch with Mike Weaver..... Smith won again, but this time both guys appeared dreadful........ Again, I rarely glance at the tape cuz the fight stunk like on of those after the meal Taco Bell farts...... I have the tape of "Smith-Moorer" from 1993 on tape........... Moorer won, but not in an impressive manner at all...... Moorer fought Smith as if Smith's power was still a factor; it was too.......... My last glimpse on tape from "Old Bones" was his shameful and gross '99 rematch with Lawrence Holmes on PPV........ Smith was a slob at 275 pounds and Holmes was chubby but still a master at 250 pounds...... Holmes beat the **** outta Smith for a TKO victory......... Christ, I haven't seen or heard from Bonecrusher Smith in 10 yrs....... I've been in the Carolina's since 2004......... Smith is the Invisible Man here....... I'm also guessing he's 300+ pounds, as well........... MR.BILL:deal
Bull****.... He won the WBA title and was always considered strong, powerful but limited in skills.......... Smith did more than ever expected of him....... He has a legacy......... No, not a great one, but he'll be remembered as the yrs toll........... bbb MR.BILL
Oh really?! U never knew what bonecrusher was going 2 show up! He lost fights he should of won! Legacy?! He'll b most rememebered for that awful performance against Tyson! Not a put down of him,tho. Just the truth.
Two things about Bonecrusher that should never be forgotten: he was the first college graduate heavyweight champ, and and incredibly soft spoken gentleman. No, he wasn't the best, but he was a champion of life.
He was a big heavyweight with decent power...there was a mental weakness here though. I remember him doing well against Holmes but caught a thumb and a cut and did not like the sight or feel of his own blood...Fighters instinct was missing here...not enough killer and bite back
That can be built up in a younger man, though - that's sort of the crux of my hypothesis. He had 6 remarkable years (belied by a pretty awful win-loss record at a superficial glance) well beyond what he ought to have accomplished given his late start and lack of a solid foundation.
Anyone remember him lamely quitting against Butler? Think his jaw was broken, but he went down in a sad way.
I have that fight............. Bones was 40ish and merely dickin' around at that point...... I actually thought Lionel Butler was gonna go somewhere at heavyweight, but then he choked against Lewis on HBO........ :bbb MR.BILL
Very good heavyweight with tremendous power.Was lucky to get his shot against Witherspoon in '86, for Mitch Green would have beaten him in NC had they fought.
He never had a real prime but he did have a peak time when he was a tough guy to beat and that was 1986. The counter he put on Mike Weaver was classic. Bonecrusher could punch.
A great read about James Bonecrusher Smith in Phil Berger's 1980s boxing book. basically sums up his career and life in one chapter. Smith used to go see a psychiatrist after losing 3 out of 4 to Tubbs, Spoon, Frazier...who told him "The ring is your domain. You have to protect your turf." He went on to rebound and knockout Weaver and Spoon. The same Pyschiatrist was with him during those fights.
I admit I have an extreme bias against fighters I consider boring. I will always lean in my evaluation ratings towards the Tommy Morrison's of the world who while not elite, provide great entertainment and leave it all on the line. Having said that, I think alot of people are giving the guy way too much credit just because he was a class act outside of boxing. Fact is the man fought in one of the worst eras for HW's, and had one of the most decieving nicknames ever. He had some pop, but guess what, he rarely put it together. More like James "Hold n Hit" Smith. He was just a guy, a filler body while we waited for the era of Holmes to end and Tyson's to begin. He's one of the reasons HBO's tourney was put together, the people were sick of belts being passed around for the mediocre to try on for 5 months.
What did the shrink tell him before the Tyson fight: "Mike is your life raft, hnag on to him for dear life."