Jem Smith (21 January 1863 – 10 September 1931) was a bare-knuckle prize fighter and Heavyweight Champion of England in the late 19th century and into the early 20th century. In 2010 he was inducted into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.[1]
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Jem Smith | |
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![]() Smith circa 1885 | |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | 170 to 212 lb (77 to 96 kg) |
Height | 5 ft 8.5 in (1.740 m) |
Nationality | English |
Born | (1863-01-21)21 January 1863 Shoreditch, London, England |
Died | 10 September 1931(1931-09-10) (aged 68) Willesden, London, England |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 14 |
Wins | 9 |
Wins by KO | 4 |
Losses | 5 |
Draws | 1 |
In 1881 he fought his first bare-knuckle prizefight aged 18 years. In 1889, he won the last internationally recognized bare-knuckle prizefight that was fought in Bruges, Belgium.
Smith fought his first heavyweight title fight in 1884 against Woolf Bendoff in the West End of London, England and won by TKO in the 13th round. He fought Jake Kilrain in 1887, in defence of his heavyweight title. The match lasted 2 and a half hours and after 106 rounds the bout was called a draw due to darkness.[2] In 1891 he fought his last BBBC fight against Ted Pritchard in New Cross, also in London, England and lost by a TKO in the 3rd round.
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