Wallace Bud Smith

Wallace "Bud" Smith, Champion:  by Brian Zelley

*  Wallace is one of the many 

obscure champions that very

seldom is considered by fans

of boxing when they discuss

champions.

In many ways, it was not

until he became a tragic

boxer that he got his 

picture on the front of a 

boxing magazine.

That happened after his  
death he received  front
page notice and an article
by Jack Welsh that appeared
in the October 1973 issue of
"Boxing Illustrated".
The title read: "Obscure champ 'Bud' Smith Takes Final Count
In Cincy Shooting".  Mr. Welsh said it all in his opening line:
"Wallace 'Bud' Smith held the world's lightweight title 16 years
ago, and when it was gone, the Cincinnati-born fighter was the
epitome of a non-person."  Then Jack hit the readers between 
the eyes and hearts with the following comment:
"Bud's post-fighting activities found him wrapped in obscurity
as perhaps no man before him."

BEYOND 1973

Well, it was great that Wallace would get recognized, but it

was short lived as his name, his great amateur journey, and

his pro journey to a world championship was quickly forgotten

and he would continue to remain the lost obscure champion.

For 38 years he would remain an obscure champion,
but it was another error that would result in a major
discussion about him again in November 2011.  
It was a real "kick in the head" for the memory of 
Wallace Smith, when there was an HBO remembrance

of champions from Cincinnati, and the name                                         Wallace "Bud" Smith was nowhere to be found, 
so he was mentioned in some boxing site with 
a brief summary of his amateur and pro boxing story.