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I remember seeing his boring fight with Tyson in which he went the distance but held a lot through out the fight.
I looked up his record on boxrec and he wasn't too bad. I mean I knew he held a version of the HW title but he had good stoppage wins over Frank Bruno and a KO 1 over Tim Witherspoon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yxX7KAlZhc
James was lucky, think he started late in the game and was well educated. He had a big punch which helped him out against Bruno because he was losing every round before the brutal KO. Against Witherspoon, he stormed him and Tim said he did not care as he was tied in with King.
James stunk the fight out against Tyson until the last round where he actually wobbled Tyson. remember his loss to Bugner in Australia, horrible fight. well and truly finished by that time. He was always in good shape though.
He was a decent, if limited fighter - but he was always fit, had a good chin and could punch. He was avoided by lots of people because it was difficult to look good against him.
If you were going to compare him with someone, it would be Cleveland 'Big Cat' Williams in the 1960's. ........ big guy, limited, big puncher but started out too late and was not really a true elite level fighter.
Hit the jackpot when he fought Brono and Witherspoon as he should never really have been in the ring with someone like Tyson. His years of being a journey man allowed him to survive the fight.
He had one of the best nicknames in boxing - 'Bonecrusher', how cool is that?
Ived never forget the nickname like "BoneCrusher" Smith watched him before with Tyson bout, people want to knock him out early by Iron Mike, seems they are unhappy after the fight.
yea second Smith/Witherspoon bout made me laughed this day, at first Tim rocked Smith and i guess even kneeled/ gloves touched the ground still was able to continue by the referee vice versa that fight was brutal. The 3 knockdown rule was classic.
No doubt the best heavyweight my home state has produced! I think he was like most heavyweights who aren't great he was unlucky at times and inconsistant as well, but he had his moments where he looked as dangerous as any of the top fighters of his era.
What state is that, Lyle?
Good AssessmentQuote:
Originally Posted by X
North Carolina....frankly we don't produce many good boxers Bonecrusher Smith and Calvin Brock are our bestQuote:
Originally Posted by X
I was just gonna say Bonecrusher was from North Carolina, which struck me as unique when I first saw it on boxrec.Quote:
Originally Posted by El KabongNorth Carolina....frankly we don't produce many good boxers Bonecrusher Smith and Calvin Brock are our bestQuote:
Originally Posted by X
Him and Larry Holmes had a rematch in 1999 in North Carolina. Holmes TKO'd him in 8.
And I agree "Bone crusher" was a GREAT nick name.
The guy was a good bit better than I thought he was. I'd say a pretty good soild heavyweight overall in his day.
I guess not. Joe Frazier was originally from South Carolina, which is just next door at least!Quote:
Originally Posted by El KabongNorth Carolina....frankly we don't produce many good boxers Bonecrusher Smith and Calvin Brock are our bestQuote:
Originally Posted by X
Wasn't Virgil Hill from North carolina?