Bud Smith

Bud Smith won the 1947 AAU lightweight title, and then won the 1948 Chicago Intercity Golden Gloves and the 1948 US Olympic Trials, defeating Michigan State’s Chuck Davey to make the Olympic team. At the Olympics Smith lost in the semi-finals and then lost the bronze medal match to Denmark’s Svend Vad. His amateur record, always an estimate, is given as 52 wins and 4 losses.

Smith turned professional in November 1948 and had an “odd” career as a pro. He won his first nine bouts but then was defeated frequently. However, in June 1955 he was given a shot at the World Lightweight title, and defeated Jimmy Carter to become the champion. He defeated Carter again in the re-match, but lost the title in August 1956 to Joe Brown, and Brown also won a re-match for the title in February 1957. Strangely, between his re-match with Carter, and losing the title to Brown, Smith fought three non-title bouts, and lost them all. He retired in April 1958, after losing his final 11 fights, finishing with a career pro record of 31 wins, 24 losses, and 6 draws, rather marginal for a world champion.

In July 1973 Smith was talking to a female friend on a street corner when a car drove by and the occupants opened fire, killing Smith, with the bullets having been intended for the woman.