James "Bonecrusher" Smith (born April 3, 1953) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999 and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1986 to 1987.

Early life Smith was born in Magnolia, North Carolina. After graduating from high school, he attended James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville, North Carolina. He earned an associate's degree in business administration in 1973. Two years later, he got a bachelor's degree in business administration from Shaw University in Raleigh.Biography of James Smith at his charity, ChampionForKids.org

Amateur career After serving in the U.S. military and working as a prison guard, Smith competed as an amateur boxer, compiling a record of 35–4 before turning professional in November 1981.

Professional career He lost his first fight against James "Broad-Axe" Broad, a world-class amateur and qualifier for the 1980 Olympics who was 2–0 as a pro. The fight was broadcast on ESPN. Smith was dropped in 4 rounds with body shots and counted out.

The following year Smith upset future cruiserweight world champion and southpaw Ricky Parkey, then 2–0 as a pro, by winning a 6-round points decision. After scoring two knockouts, Smith followed up the Parkey win with another upset: an 8-round points decision over Chris McDonald, who was 8–0–1 as a pro and had been a top amateur. He went on to score nine straight knockouts, before traveling to the UK in 1984, where he fought and knocked out Frank Bruno, who was 21–0 (21 KOs).

In November 1984, he fought Larry Holmes for the IBF heavyweight championship. Holmes had a record of 45–0 (32 KOs) and had won eighteen straight world title fights. Smith was stopped on advice of the doctor in the 12th round, due to a severe cut, and was behind on points again. He had Holmes in trouble from rounds five to seven.

Smith came back in 1985, fighting on Don King undercards. He lost a 10-round decision to 19–0 amateur star and future world champ Tony Tubbs in an eliminator, won a 10-round decision over 18–1 Cuban contender José Ribalta, then dropped a wide 12-round decision to ex-world champ Tim Witherspoon in a bid for Witherspoon's NABF belt.

In 1986 he dropped Marvis Frazier, including breaking Frazier's jaw, but lost the 10-round decision. At this time, Bonecrusher began consulting a psychiatrist. In his next fight he beat ex-world champ Mike Weaver in one round. He followed it up with two 10-round decisions over Jesse Ferguson (14–2) and David Bey (15–2).

WBA Heavyweight Champion

In December 1986, while preparing for a fight with Mitch "Blood" Green, Don King informed him at short notice that Tony Tubbs had dropped out of his upcoming challenge to WBA champ Tim Witherspoon, and now Smith would be getting a rematch with Witherspoon. He dropped Witherspoon three times in the opening round, scoring a first-round knockout and winning the WBA title in an upset.

With his victory over Witherspoon, Smith took his place in the heavyweight unification series, an ongoing competition being conducted by HBO and King to crown an undisputed world heavyweight champion for the first time since the retirement of Muhammad Ali. The victory garnered Smith another fight, where he was to defend his belt against newly crowned WBC champion Mike Tyson in a unification contest. Taking place on March 7, 1987, the bout saw Tyson beat Smith to the punch in nearly every round, while Smith resorted to holding to keep himself in the fight. The decision saw Smith lose eleven rounds on two scorecards and all twelve on another.

Final years Smith returned to the ring for a few months, taking on Brazilian contender Adilson "Maguila" Rodrigues in São Paulo and losing by split decision.

In 1989, now aged 36, he took on the Jamaican-Canadian Razor Ruddock. Ruddock won by knockout in the 7th round and Smith announced his retirement afterwards, declaring he would pursue politics.

Smith was back in the ring only two months later, knocking out journeyman Calvin Jones, followed by three more knockouts before being matched with former victim Mike Weaver in a battle of hard hitting ex-champs. This time, Smith was resigned to having to win a dull 12-round points decision over Weaver, although he did score a knockdown in a brief moment of excitement. He also earned the WBA Americas belt and a world ranking.

After a year-long layoff he was back, now aged 38, and scored six knockouts. Achievements included a notable 8-round knockout of the cement-skulled journeyman Everett "Bigfoot" Martin (who had just taken George Foreman the distance) and a first-round knockout of Jeff Sims.

Smith lost his world ranking and all his momentum in November 1991 when he dropped a shocking 10-round decision to club fighter Levi Billups who had a patchy 15–5 record. Smith looked under-prepared as he was banged around and generally outhustled by Billups. Smith rallied to knock down the underdog in the 9th; however, it was too little too late.

Still active in 1992, now aged 39 and with a 33–9–1 record, Smith regained some credibility with a 10-round decision over Mark Wills. His old agitator Don King gave him another opportunity on one of his undercards and matched him with warhorse Greg Page, in a battle of two ex-champs. In the opening round, Bonecrusher tried to rush Page as he had done Witherspoon; however, Smith was decked for his efforts and outpunched by Page over the 10 round distance.

In 1993 Smith lost to undefeated southpaw and #1 contender Michael Moorer. The paying audience jeered the two passive fighters through to the 10 round finish, where Smith lost a lopsided decision.

Smith competed in the One-Night Heavyweight Tournament in Bay St Louis (not included in the official record, counted as show), where a group of heavies of varying quality would fight a series of 3 round fights with the winner being awarded one million dollars. He beat Lester Jackson and Marshall Tillman, before losing in the semi-final to Romanian prospect Daniel Dăncuţă. Smith's old buddy Tony Tubbs eventually won the tournament.

In 1994 Smith was matched with power punching Lionel Butler, who was highly ranked and on a red-hot string of knockouts. Smith collapsed in 3 rounds with little resistance.

Later that year he traveled to Europe to drop a points decision to German Axel Schulz, and in Denmark he was stopped in 5 rounds due to a cut from a headbutt by Brian Nielsen. Smith was overweight for both fights and his days as a contender dwindled.

He fought on and off for a few more years. In 1998, he traveled to Australia to battle Joe Bugner for the WBF heavyweight championship, but had to retire after one round when his shoulder dislocated. The same injury ended a fight in 1999 with former world champion Larry Holmes. After this loss, Smith retired at the age of 46, touting a record of 44–17–1 (32 KOs).

In 1995, Smith helped establish the North Carolina Boxing Commission and served as the first chairman.

Life after boxing Smith became an ordained minister in 1996 and dedicated his life to helping young people stay clear of crime and drugs. Three years later, he retired from boxing.

In 2004 Smith started the non-profit Champion For Kids Inc. to provide scholarships to high school students.

Smith began working as a recruiter and the Director of Intramural Athletics for Sandhills Community College in June 2005.

Deeply committed to helping impoverished fighters, Smith was a guest at the Ring 10 Veterans Boxing Foundation 2nd Annual Fundraiser in 2012, where he expressed his support of initiatives to better provide for those in need.

Smith is currently working with organizers to establish the Legends of Boxing Hall of Fame in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes62LossLarry HolmesTKO8 (10), Jun 18, 199961Win44–16–1Dave SlaughterTKO2 (8), Nov 27, 199860Loss43–16–1Joe BugnerRTD1 (12), Jul 4, 199859Win43–15–1Lynwood JonesUD8Feb 25, 199858Win42–15–1Troy RobertsTKO3 (10), Apr 11, 199657Win41–15–1Eli DixonTKO3 (8)Aug 22, 199556Win40–15–1Bernd FriedrichSD10Mar 25, 199555Loss39–15–1Brian NielsenTKO5 (8)Oct 7, 199454Loss39–14–1Axel SchulzUD10Sep 17, 199453Loss39–13–1Lionel ButlerTKO3 (10), Jan 18, 199452Win39–12–1Lester JacksonUD3Dec 3, 199351Win38–12–1Marshall TillmanUD3Dec 3, 199350Loss37–12–1Daniel DăncuțăUD3Dec 3, 199349Win37–11–1Elijah TilleryTKO6 (10), Sep 14, 199348Win36–11–1Andrew StokesUD10Aug 7, 199347Win35–11–1Kevin FordTKO9 (10)Jun 26, 199346Win34–11–1Donnell WingfieldTKO2 (10), Jun 1, 199345Loss33–11–1Michael MoorerUD10Feb 27, 199344Loss33–10–1Greg PageUD10Jun 26, 199243Win33–9–1Danny WoffordTKO8Apr 24, 199242Win32–9–1Mark WillsUD10Feb 15, 199241Win31–9–1Andre CrowderKO1 (10), Dec 13, 199140Loss30–9–1Levi BillupsUD10Nov 4, 199139Win30–8–1Marshall TillmanTKO10 (10), Sep 24, 199138Win29–8–1Jeff SimsKO1 (10), Sep 17, 199137Win28–8–1Everett MartinTKO8 (10), Aug 6, 199136Win27–8–1Kimmuel OdumTKO3 (12), Jul 22, 199135Win26–8–1Terry ArmstrongKO2Jun 28, 199134Win25–8–1Lawrence CarterTKO1 (12), Apr 28, 199133Win24–8–1Mike WeaverUD12Apr 4, 199032Win23–8–1Manoel de Almeida6 (10), Feb 20, 199031Win22–8–1Mike RouseKO7 (10), Dec 14, 198930Win21–8–1Jesse McGheeTKO2Oct 21, 198929Win20–8–1Calvin JonesTKO8 (10)Sep 29, 198928Loss19–8–1Donovan RuddockKO7 (10), Jul 2, 198927Draw19–7–1Mike Rouse3 (10)Jul 30, 198826Loss19–7Adílson RodriguesSD10Aug 9, 198725Loss19–6Mike TysonUD12Mar 7, 198724Win19–5Tim WitherspoonTKO1 (15), Dec 12, 198623Win18–5David BeyUD10Aug 23, 198622Win17–5Jesse FergusonMD10Jun 7, 198621Win16–5Mike WeaverTKO1 (10), Apr 5, 198620Loss15–5Marvis FrazierUD10Feb 23, 198619Loss15–4Tim WitherspoonUD12Jun 15, 198518Win15–3José Ribalta10Apr 29, 198517Loss14–3Tony Tubbs10Mar 15, 198516Loss14–2Larry HolmesTKO12 (15), Nov 9, 198415Win14–1Frank BrunoKO10 (10)May 13, 198414Win13–1Rahim MuhammadTKO5Feb 19, 198413Win12–1Leroy BooneTKO4 (10)Nov 4, 198312Win11–1Walter SantemoreTKO4 (10)Aug 23, 198311Win10–1Eugene CatoKO4 (10)Jun 14, 198310Win9–1Lynwood JonesTKO2May 10, 19839Win8–1Lee CohenKO1Apr 23, 19838Win7–1Nate RobinsonTKO2 (8), Apr 2, 19837Win6–1Larry Givens3Dec 14, 19826Win5–1Lonnie ChapmanKO2Oct 16, 19825Win4–1Chris McDonald8Sep 11, 19824Win3–1Louis AlexanderKO2, Jul 31, 19823Win2–1Mike CohenKO2Apr 22, 19822Win1–1Ricky Parkey6Jan 30, 19821Loss0–1James Broad4 (6), Nov 5, 1981

References

External links

Documentary Series from History of Boxing – "James Bonecrusher Smith: Triumph and Tragedy"