DAVID (DAVE) WEIR SMITH

10th May 1886 – 29th May 1945.

Like Dan Creedon before him, Dave Smith was born in New Zealand. Smith also a man of the South, was born in Dunedin. Like Creedon, Smith also took up boxing in his homeland before moving to Australia in Dave’s case Sydney to embark on a professional career. Prior to leaving New Zealand Dave had been a successful amateur boxer winning the Otago middleweight title in 1906. Winning a provincial championship would normally result in selection for the NZ Amateur Championships. Not in Smiths’ case. Otago selectors instead chose Archie Leckie the incumbent National titleholder to represent them at that year’s Championships. Their decision left a sour taste in Smith’s mouth and he did not forget what he felt was a personal slight. For some time, he lost interest in boxing. It was this perceived injustice more than anything else that lay behind his decision to move to Australia.

Arriving in Sydney in early 1908, Dave kicked his heels around town for a time. Gradually his enthusiasm for boxing returned and he enrolled in Larry Foley’s gym. Under Foley’s guidance, he won several amateur fights. Selected to represent NSW in the Australasian championships he no doubt felt sweet vindication when he defeated the New Zealand representative en-route to winning the 1908 Australasian Heavyweight title.

On 26/1/1909 at Sydney’s, Gaiety Athletic Hall, Smith stopped Edward “Starlight” Rollins in the 8th round. The British Guyana born Starlight was having his 97th contest while Smith was engaging in his first professional fight. Starlight was not unaccustomed to coming up against New Zealand boxers, three NZBHOF inductees, Fitzsimmons, Creedon, and Dave Smith were opponents of Starlight.

In the twelve months following his victory over Starlight, Smith went unbeaten in ten fights his two most notable performances being against the vastly more experienced Pat O’Keefe a long time British Middleweight Champion. Their first encounter at Brisbane Stadium resulted in a decision win for Smith, their second fight a stoppage win for the New Zealander. Two months prior to his second fight against O’Keefe on 24/11/1909 Dave had been held to a draw against highly-rated former Australian Middleweight Champ Arthur Cripps. Cripps and Smith fought again on 12/10/1910 at the Sydney Stadium this time for the British Empire and vacant Australian Middleweight titles. Smith won over 20 rounds.

There was no stopping the New Zealander over the next six months. He made a successful defense of his newly won titles against Australian hardman Ted Whiting, stopping the Australian in the 12th round. Wins over former World Middleweight titleholder Billy Papke, W DQ 10, Jimmy Clabby, W PTS 20, and Cyclone Johnny Thompson, W PTS 20, followed.

Following this period of outstanding form, the sky seemed the limit for the New Zealander. Then quite suddenly his form seemed to ebb away. In a rematch with Papke, four months after their first fight he was stopped in seven rounds. A DQ, loss to the lightly regarded Frank Bundgardy followed. There were wins over Jack Howard and Bandsman Dick Rice, a draw with Jimmy Clabby a win by DQ over Jack Lester, and another decision over Cyclone Johnny Thompson. On 24/2/1912 at Sydney Stadium, a third meeting with Jimmy Clabby resulted in another draw.

Following the drawn fight with Clabby, Dave decided to try his luck in America. He embarked on a whirlwind tour, five fights in three cities in two months. There were no easy touches either. His first bout was in Madison Square Garden on 2/9/1912 against highly rated Eddie McGoorty. Smith suffered a crushing defeat, his first in 25 fights, McGoorty winning in the first round. Boxing scribes wrote him off. They didn’t give him a chance to prove himself, “just another prone foreigner”, was the general reaction of the press. Three weeks later in Philadelphia, he won a points decision over future World Light Heavyweight Champion Battling Levinsky. Wins over George Ashe and Freddie Hicks followed. He concluded his North American campaign losing a 6 round NWS decision to the highly-rated Leo Houck on 8/11/1912.

Back in Australia, Smith maintained the hectic pace with another 13 fights over the following 12 months, mainly in and around Sydney. At Sydney Stadium on 1/2/1913, he beat Reg Midwood W RTD, 10 to win the vacant Australian Light Heavyweight Championship. He made three successful defences of the title, twice against Jerry Jerome and one against Les O’Donnell all by knockout.

Dave defeated “Big” Bill Lang over 20 rounds on 5/11/1913 in Melbourne winning both the Empire Heavyweight and vacant Australian Heavyweight titles. New Year’s Day 1914, he faced his old nemesis Eddie McGoorty, the American winning in the first round once again. Three months later McGoorty repeated the dose with a KO victory in the 10th round. Two stirring contests in August followed as Smith continued his rivalry with Jimmy Clabby. Both fights were for the Australian Heavyweight Championship. On August 1st Clabby won the title with a first-round KO. Twelve days later Smith regained the Championship with a 20-round decision

Smith started 1915 positively a good decision over highly-rated American import Fritz Holland. Soon after he made another successful defence of his Australian Heavyweight title defeating the relatively inexperienced Ben Doyle. After Doyle, Smith decided to call it quits on his ring career to focus more time on his boxing gym and fitness centre. Like many before and since he was lured back to the ring fifteen months later. On the comeback trail, he faced old rival, Jimmy Clabby, losing a 20-round decision. A month later on 10/6/1916 he KO’d rated heavyweight Colin Bell.

Les Darcy an icon of Australian sport who died tragically young well before he had realized his full potential was Smiths’ next opponent. Darcy at the time had run out of meaningful opposition, he had beaten Australia’s best and had defeated American imports the calibre of Jimmy Clabby, Buck Crouse, Fritz Holland, Jem Smith and Eddie McGoorty. Frustrated by the lack of meaningful opposition in Australia Darcy was keen to go to America and conquer the best they had to offer. Snowy Baker, Darcy’s promoter had him under a six-fight contract and was determined to hold him to it. Baker reasoned the only meaningful fight left for Darcy would be a match against his former trainer Dave Smith. It was a fight the sporting public were keen to see. Baker set about making the match, even though the fight would be a risky assignment for Darcy. Baker knew Dave Smith was no mug.

Darcy, however, was not keen on fighting Dave Smith. The two were more than just rivals, there was a deep bond between them.  At one time or another Smith had been Darcy’s trainer, mentor and manager but above all, they were great friends. All this aside once the match had been formerly agreed, it was down to business and when the two entered the Sydney Stadium ring on 24/6/1916 no quarter was given.

Employing fine boxing skills Smith ten years Darcy’s senior more than held his own in the early rounds. Skilfull boxing and hard-hitting from both men thrilled the crowd but as the contest moved into the later rounds Darcy’s strength wore Smith down. Darcy settled the issue delivering the knockout punch in the 12th round and with it lifted the Australian Heavyweight Title. Three weeks later Smith was back in the ring this time against the highly touted American Buck Crouse, Dave retired with an injured arm in the 9th round. On August 5th the pair met again, Smith this time came out on top knocking Crouse out with a great punch in the 4th stanza.

Smith’s performance against Crouse and Snowy Bakers’ ongoing dilemma in not being able to find a suitable opponent for Les Darcy led to an inevitable rematch between the pair. Keen as he was to keep fighting, Les Darcy had no stomach for fighting his mentor again a man he held in such high regard. Regardless the match was made. The fight took place amid much fanfare at the Brisbane Stadium on the Wednesday morning of the Labour Day Holiday 16/8/1916. Ringside seats were priced at two pounds, the Australian Heavyweight title was again at stake and both fighters received a good payday.

Darcy again won convincingly. Smith absorbed heavy punishment and barely survived the 11th round. When he got back to his corner, his cornermen threw the towel in. Snowy Baker the referee threw the towel back again, he examined Smith in his corner. Baker then proceeded to raise Darcy’s hand. Immediately after the fight, Smith announced his retirement again, he wanted to continue his work as a boxing trainer at his gym.

Dave’s retirement lasted a little more than two weeks. He returned to the ring for four more fights in 1916. Twice he was KO’d by American Art Magirl, took a decision over Joe Chip brother of George and on Boxing Day again won the Australian Heavyweight Championship with a 10th round KO over faded Bill Squires, the title having been left vacant through Les Darcy’s departure for America.

Dave had two more fights before finally hanging up the gloves for good, both in 1917 and both in defence of his Australian Heavyweight title. On April 14th at the Sydney Stadium, he beat Albert Kid Lloyd over 20 rounds. Then on May 26th, again at the Sydney Stadium in the final bout of his distinguished career, he was KO’d in the 10th by long-time foe Jimmy Clabby. One can only imagine the heartache that Dave Smith must have felt at this time for just two days previously Les Darcy, the young man who meant so much to him, had passed away in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dave Smiths achievements more than merit his inclusion into the NZBHOF. When one takes into account that at 1.75 metres and 77 kilos, he was oftentimes much smaller than his opponents, men like Colin Bell, Bill Lang and Bill Squires towered over him. Yet he was able to beat such big men due to his excellent footwork and boxing skills. An injury to his spine when younger affected his neck causing great discomfort.   

In retirement, Dave Smith remained an identity in the Mosman area of Sydney for many years. His house was situated next to his lolly shop and refreshment rooms on The Esplanade at the Almora Street corner adjacent to Balmoral Beach. Next door was his gymnasium, Les Darcy and other boxing champions had trained there. Local boys continued to learn how to box under Dave’s experienced eye for many years to come just as the young Les Darcy had done before them. Saturday or Sunday a boxing ring would be set up on the beach and exhibitions staged for the crowd. Dave was an Alderman on Mosman Council in the years 1925/31.” Vote for the man with a punch”, was his campaign slogan.

Dave Smith eventually moved to Katoomba where he died aged 59 on May 29th, 1945.

He is buried in Gore Hill Cemetery, St Leonards, North Sydney, Australia. C of E Sect: K, 167.

He was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in (2009).

Dave Smith’s Ring Record Stands at:

62 Bouts – 39 Wins (19 by KO) – 13 Loses (11 by KO) – 3 Draws – 7 ND

 M.P. 2020

Ref: Mosman Memories of your street:  Memories of a Young Lad from 1921. Ron Wylie.