Dave Smith (1886 – 29 May 1945) was a champion New Zealand-born boxer. Smith had success as an amateur boxer in New Zealand, winning Otago and Dunedin titles, and moved to Australia in 1907 to pursue a professional career.Dave Smith—A Great Australian Heavyweight
, ''Toodyay Herald'', 25 October 1946, p. 9. Retrieved 13 October 2014 He became the heavyweight champion of Australia, and travelled to the United States looking for a shot at the world title. On his return to Australia he beat

Bill Lang Bill Lang (born William Lanfranchi; 6 July 1882 – 3 September 1952) was an Australian professional boxer who held the national heavyweight title. He was also an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football ...

to win the Commonwealth heavyweight title. '' From Bondage to Freedom'' (1911) and ''

In the Last Stride ''In the Last Stride'' is a 1916 Australian silent film directed by Martyn Keith based on the 1914 popular action novel by Arthur Wright. The film's star, Dave Smith, was a champion heavyweight boxer who had fought Les Darcy. There was also an ...

'' (1916). Dave Smith died on 29 May 1945 in Sydney. Dave was the 2009 Inductee for the

Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 and began inducting boxers into the Hall of Fame in 2003. Since then annual induction dinners have been held across Australia. Inductees are nominated and then voted upon by a panel of ...

Old Timers category.

References

External links

Dave Smith boxing record
at Boxrec

1886 births 1945 deaths New Zealand male boxers Heavyweight boxers Australian male boxers New Zealand emigrants to Australia {{Australia-boxing-bio-stub