Jeff Smith (boxer)

Jeff Smith
Statistics
Real name Jerome Jefferds
Nickname(s) The Bayonne Globetrotter
Rated at Middleweight
Height 5 ft 8.5 in (1.74 m)
Reach 71 in (180 cm)
Nationality American
Born (1891-04-23)April 23, 1891
New York City, New York
Died February 3, 1962(1962-02-03) (aged 69)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 183
Wins 141
Wins by KO 48
Losses 35
Draws 4
No contests 1

Jerome "Jeff Smith" Jefferds (April 23, 1891 – February 3, 1962) was an American professional boxer who held the Australian version of the World Middleweight Title during his career. Despite his relative anonymity, Smith faced off against some the best fighters of his era, including Harry Greb, Gene Tunney, Mike Gibbons, Georges Carpentier, Les Darcy and Tommy Loughran.[1] Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Smith as the 17th greatest middleweight ever, while Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer ranked Smith as the #10 Middleweight of all-time.[2][3] He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1969 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.[3][4]

Early career

Smith (right), during his bout with Georges Carpentier

Smith made his pro debut in 1910 (the same year of the death of famed Middleweight Champion Stanley Ketchel), beating Ray Hatfield by newspaper decision over four rounds.[5] On February 20, 1912, Smith beat future World Middleweight Title holder George Chip on points over fifteen rounds in what turned out to be a heated battle. His next notable challenge was against another future Middleweight titleholder in Mike Gibbons, with whom he drew over 10 rounds as decided by newspaper reporters.[5] On October 11, 1913, Smith faced yet another future champion in French fighter and future Light Heavyweight champ Georges Carpentier. Despite a late rally by Smith, Carpentier used his vaunted technique beat him decisively in a twenty round decision.[1]

Australian World Middleweight Champion

Earning his nickname as the "Bayonne Globetrotter", Smith faced Eddie McGoorty in Australia, losing an extremely unpopular decision over twenty rounds. The decision was so despised that it was later rescinded, and Smith was awarded the Australian version of the World Middleweight Title.[5] Smith would lose the title to Australian pugilist Mick King on November 28, 1914 but regained it just one month later on December 26 of the same year.[1] On January 23, 1915 Smith faced famed Australian fighter Les Darcy, beating him by disqualification after Darcy's handlers threw in a towel in protest to what they claimed was a low blow by Smith. Smith thus maintained his status as Australian champion, but Darcy would later exact his revenge, beating Smith via disqualification for repeated low blows.[5]

Later career

During his career, Smith had a tremendous rivalry with the legendary Harry Greb; with the two squaring of a total of seven times. Although he lost six times and drew once against the "Pittsburgh Windmill", Greb had great respect for Smith; stating "My toughest fight was with Jeff Smith. (Tommy) Gibbons gave me a hard battle, but nothing like the Smith beating."[5] Also notable was his tetra-logy of fights with Mike Gibbons, resulting in one win and three losses.[6] Near the end of his career, Smith faced the fabled Gene Tunney; losing a clear decision to the much larger "Fighting Marine" after being knocked down twice.[5] Smith retired after being knocked out for the first time by Cuban Bobby Brown on November 18, 1927.[1]

Notable Bouts

Result Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss United States Gene Tunney NWS 15 1924-12-08 United States Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana Newspaper Decision
Win Wales Frank Moody NWS 15 1924-12-08 United States Exposition Building, Portland, Maine Newspaper Decision
Win United States Tommy Loughran NWS 8 1923-06-18 United States Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
Loss United States Tommy Loughran NWS 10 1923-03-08 United States 109th Infantry Armory, Scranton, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
Loss United States Harry Greb NWS 10 1922-02-20 United States Freeman Avenue Armory, Cincinnati, Ohio Newspaper Decision
Loss Republic of Ireland Mike McTigue PTS 15 1921-12-01 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss United States Mike Gibbons NWS 12 1921-08-09 United States Armory A.A., Jersey City, New Jersey Newspaper Decision
Draw United States Harry Greb PTS 15 1921-05-20 United States Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
Loss United States Harry Greb PTS 10 1921-02-25 United States Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts
Loss United States Harry Greb NWS 10 1920-12-25 United States Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
Loss United States Mike O'Dowd SD 15 1920-11-09 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win Republic of Ireland Mike McTigue PTS 15 1920-08-10 Canada Armouries, Halifax, Nova Scotia Won Canada Middleweight Title
Loss United States Harry Greb NWS 12 1919-09-01 United States Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio Newspaper Decision
Loss Panama Panama Joe Gans NWS 8 1919-07-08 United States Atlantic City S.C., Atlantic City, New Jersey Newspaper Decision
Win United States Mike Gibbons NWS 10 1919-07-04 United States Association Park, Kansas City, Missouri Newspaper Decision
Loss United States Leo Houck NWS 6 1918-07-04 United States Lancaster, Pennsylvania Newspaper Decision
Win Republic of Ireland Mike McTigue NWS 10 1917-11-01 United States Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn, New York Newspaper Decision
Loss United States Harry Greb NWS 10 1917-09-11 United States Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Newspaper Decision
Loss United States Harry Greb NWS 10 1917-05-19 United States Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York Newspaper Decision
Loss United States Mike Gibbons NWS 10 1916-03-17 United States Saint Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota Newspaper Decision
Loss Australia Les Darcy DQ 2 (20) 1915-05-22 Australia Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales Lost World Middleweight Title (Australian Version)
Win Australia Les Darcy DQ 5 (20) 1915-01-23 Australia Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales Retained World Middleweight Title (Australian Version)
Win United States Eddie McGoorty PTS 20 1914-03-14 Australia Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales Won World Middleweight Title (Australian Version)
Loss France Georges Carpentier PTS 20 1913-10-11 France Luna Park Arena, Paris
Loss United States Mike Gibbons NWS 10 1912-04-11 United States New Amsterdam Opera House, New York, New York Newspaper Decision

Life After Boxing

After retiring, he became a physical education instructor with the Bayonne Board of Education and the Fort Dix New Jersey Army Base, he also taught boxing lessons at the local YMCA.[3][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jeff Smith's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-05.
  2. All-Time Middleweight Rankings. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-26.
  3. 1 2 3 Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia - Jeff Smith CyberBoxingZone.com Retrieved on 2014-04-05
  4. 1 2 International Boxing Hall of Fame Jeff Smith IBHOF.com Retrieved on 2014-04-05
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cavanaugh, Douglas (16 December 2010). "Jeff Smith". International Boxing Research Organization. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  6. Mike Gibbons and Jeff Smith. PapersPast.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-05.
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Eddie McGoorty
World Middleweight Champion
March 14, 1914 – November 28, 1914
Only Recognized in Australia
Succeeded by
Mick King
Preceded by
Mick King
World Middleweight Champion
December 26, 1914 – May 22, 1915
Only Recognized in Australia
Succeeded by
Les Darcy
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