James E. Smith ("Smitty") is a sports and media figure best known for his interviews with famous international boxing stars. Smith was a professional boxer for three years and has played football for
University of Minnesota Tech. He is the host of ''In This Corner'',
''In This Corner TV Show's website'', Retrieved 2008-12-04. America's only syndicated, half-hour-long boxing interview TV show, featuring interviews and in-ring demonstrations with professional boxers. Smith also has a regular commentary section on Secondsout.com,
''SecondsOut'', Retrieved 2008-11-26. a leading boxing news website. Smith currently resides in
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
, and has three children.
Personal life
Smith was born on February 5, 1959, in
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, to Louise and James Smith Sr. He met boxing legend,
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...
, in 1970 when he was just 11 years old. Smith would often visit Ali at the 5th Street Gym on
Miami Beach where he would frequently train. Smith played football for Carol City High School and later, University of Minnesota Tech, where he started as a
wide receiver for two years. He was also a ball boy for the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pla ...
in 1970-1973.
Career
In 1980, Smith decided to pursue a career in boxing, but that decision was short-lived. He quit boxing just three years later and soon started sports directing, talk hosting, broadcasting and even commentating for various television stations for the next forty years.
. ''Smitty Zone'', Retrieved 2008-11-26.
On May 23, 1997, Smith gave the play-by-play commentary of the first ever live internet boxing broadcast.
On April 1, 2004, Smith began hosting ''In This Corner''.
''In This Corner'' He has not only had famous boxers on the show, but well-known actors also.
Inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame, Class of 2010.
''Florida Boxing Hall of Fame website'', Retrieved 2010-03-28.
Inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016
Current Host and MC of International Boxing Hall of Fame weekend Induction Ceremonies
References
External links
In This Corner TV, Smitty's boxing interview TV show
Smitty Zone, James Smith's personal website
Smitty on YouTube
Smitty on Myspace
Smitty's column on Secondsout.com
1959 births
Living people
People from Miami
Television personalities from Florida
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