New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-13
SMITH CLOSE TO TITLE.
"GunbOat" Is Logical Opponent
for McCarty in Ring.
CARRIES A STIFF PUNCH
Many Boxing Enthusiasts Think
Former Navy Man Can De.
feat the Champion.

Pressing forward into the ranks OF the
heavyweights stridng forward and up
ward in "A manner that allows no denial
Edward Smith. of San Francisco known
I'm the ropcd arena as "Gunboat' Smith
is making his bid for pugilistic fame and
a chance ut the championship title. AL
though announced as "A son Of the Golden
State. Smith is really an Eastern man,
and twenty-five years ago was born In
Philadelphia. II was from the Quaker
city that Smith enlisted in the United
States navy. and TO the hard work and
training that he received while wearing
the blue Jacket Of Uncle Sam. Smith
really owes his rise I'm the boxing game.
Scrubbing down decks. polishing bright
work, and the numerous other pleasant
duties and otherwise. of the ablebodied
seaman hardened Smiths muscles and
gave him the physique which has stood
him i'm such excellent stead I'm many
gruelling battle I'm the arena. Smith is
an Irish-American boy. and his father
has served for many years in the United
States navy. and has not yet been mus
tered out of service. II was on the deck
of his ship that Smith first dOnned ;he
gloves. and il was not long before he
was acknowledged the best fighter on
board. He entered i'm one of the tourna-
ments. and after lighting several hard
battles won a medal, which he later
tried 10 pawn Gossip has II that the
loan broker refused 10 advance him more
than - cents on the medal and Smith
resolved forthwith to become real pro-
fessional
At the present time Smiths name is
linked with that Of Luther McCarty. and
there are many who believe that he Is
the better man OF the two. These are
firm I'm the belief that II McCarty and
Smith ever meet in the ring over any
distance the former would lose that All
too Insecure title OF heavyweight cham-
pion OF the world. Judged from the
hearty respect which McCarty seems TO
feel for Smith. the opinion may not DC
altogether without grounds. Certain II IS
that McCarty has never shown any real
desire 10 match his strength and SIKH
against that of the lanky gunner.
A careful comparison Of the two men
would give McCarty ever natural adj
vantage save In hitting ability. McCarty
is feet 3 inches in height In his pare
foe, while Smith is feet III Inches
McCarty. when he last boxed In this city
weighed 20 pounds He has grown bigger
since that time. and when he next boxes
II would not bee surprising II he tipped
the beam at 2l5 pounds or more. smith
in his best lighting trim IS not heavier
than l79 or Isl pounds
From what the local enthusiasts have
seen OF tho two men In action there Is
nothing 70 choose between them as
boxers. in the true sense Of the WORD.
Smith has been boxing for six years but
he has been slow in picking up the little
erts that 20 20 make the really high
grade ring artist He IS tricky. after
fashion, and while not SNOWY has
simple dircctness in his style OF attack
that Is remarkable. "Bombardier' Wells
| Fred Mckay. Jim Savage, Jim Stewart
and others will attest this Under the
guidance OF Bob Armstrong. Smith has
come along rapidly I'm the last several
months Smith is now "A little better
| than was McCarty when the latter boxed
/ hero last
! McCarty, however. has had the benefit
Of two long battles IN the West-one
/ with Flvnn and the other With Al Palzer-
and according 20 an reports mas I'M
proved remarkably. II may be that, de-
/ spite the handicap OF comparative mex
ucricucc-for he has been boxing only
/ wear or so--NcCarty now is the equal OF
| smith IN boxing. That with his physical
/ ADVANTAGES. would give him moro than
an equal chance with the lanky gunner
and would bring the question down 10
| the relative hitting powers OF the men.
NcCarty may or may not be lustliled III
! dtmandng an impossible sum OF money
| for meeting Smith IN a ten-round contest
/ AZ Madison Square Garden. Billy gibson
I offered him fl15Ol 10 box ten rounds Win
/ smith but NcCarty told him To pay the
small change 10 the porter aud come 10
/ terms McCarty wanted only N5,nO 10
risk his title II viii be rene INBRED
I how he also refused $4,000 20 box bonn
/ bardior" Wells, so why accept the same
/ sum TO meet a really dangerous man
| smith Is really anxious 10 meet the chdin-
| pion. II McCarty is TO be so digniied. lie
! thinks that he can beat any man III the
/ world, and wants 10 prove IL 10 TIE saus-
| faction of the entire sport loving pupIc.
Summing It all up, however, tnc tact
| remains that Smith Is "A one-punch, one
! handed fighter lie has not yet demon
! strated the fact that his left hand is TO
| be rcckoned with lie Is power, pro
vided ne Is able 10 get that long right
| hand wallop over, and Is liable 10 knock
out any man IN the world. II he were 10
/ meet "A really clever man who could take
! a punch and still be strons-say. FOR IN
! stance. Sam Langford or Joe Jeannette-
| there b. some doubt as 10 Just what
| Smith would be able 10 accomplish.