Willie Smith's Boxing Career

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 175, 14 October 1927, Page 11

Willie Smith's Boxing Career

SOUTH AFRICAN’S RECORD YET TO BE DEFEATED (From Our Own Correspondent) CAPETOWN. The young South African bantam-weight, Willie Smith, retained his unbeaten record when he obtained th 6 decision over Teddy Baldock, of England, bantam-weight champion of the world, in a bout in the Albert Hall, London, last Thursday. TJALDOCK won the world title by defeating the American, Archie Bell, at the Albert Hall. Tall, fair-haired, with a splendid phj'sique, remi liscent of Jim Driscoll, ancl with a style that also resembles “Peerless Jim,” Smith has had a remarkable) boxing career. It is pot surprising that his boxing resembles that of the famous Welshman, as he has been a worshipper of Driscoll, and has studied his pictures and read all available matter on the old champion’s

fights. Smith has the same perfect poise tha,t* distinguished his idol, and an English writer states that few besides Driscoll could shoot out a straight right to the jaw when an opponent was expecting a stinging left hook, as does Smith. Johannesburg amateur boxing, of which Smith is a product, has had great success in recent years, carrying off two Olympic championships, and also winning two British titles last year. As a boy of 18 Smith won the Transvaal junior title and the South African senior championship. The same year he was selected to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games in Paris. The way in which he won the bantam championship caught the attention of the critics, the British handbook of the games saying that he won after an exhibition of all that was right in boxing, and also that his performances in all his fights, and those of Mallin and La Barba, were easily the best of the tournament. Although American sportsmen made him offers to return to America with them and *urn professional, Smith recognised his obligation to his country. and refused. EJEAT ALL-COMERS About two years ago Slmith started his professional career. After defeating all the best of the South Africans, in and out of his weight, he defeated all the men from overseas who went to Johannesburg to meet him, including such well known Bri ish boxers as Johnny Brown, the British bantamchampion, Ernie Jarvis, Kid Socks, Young Johnny Brown, and Jim McKenzie. The South African outclassed them all, as they were unable to cope with his exceptional speed and his amazingly fast hitting. The fight with Baldock was not for the world’s championship, but it is expected that the pair will meet again when the title will be in dispute. Spectators at Smith’s important contents state that he is a worthy contender for the title. He has not only never suffered defeat, but has never been Imocked off his feet or been in difficulties in any of his contests. A beautiful left hand, and a variety of right hand punches, have had much to do with his success. He is a twohanded fighter of the first order, and with his exceptional speed has had the best of his opponents from almost the first round. In the American sense he is not a knock-out specialist, but he is a punishing hitter, and most of his antagonists have shown the weight of his punches when they have left the ring. QUIIET AND UNASSUMING Quiet and unassuming, the young South African is nothing if not a credit

to the professional side of the sport. Whil€i taking on all who cared to meet him, he still held his position as a clerk in one of the famous gold mines, doing his training in the evening. One Saturday night he earned £SOO by defeating Young Johnny Brown, and on the Monday morning was at his desk as usual. , Smith has made good use of his money, and one of the first things he did with his boxing earnings wa3 to buy a house for his widowed mother. The account of the fight between Smith and Baldock last Thursday states that Baldock was the aggressor in the early rounds, which were even, but in the eighth Smith dropped Baldock with a left to the point. Although Baldock was very plucky, he was completely outboxed throughout the rest of the fight. It appears that Baldock will have his work cut out to retain bis title when the pair meet in a championship bout a little later on.