One night, two fights, two states, two wins for warrior Buck Smith

Boxing’s ultimate stay-busy warrior, Buck “Tombstone” Smith was a fighter who never turned down an assignment. So, when his manager got the call offering a fight in Wichita, Kansas in May 1992, he (of course) accepted. But he also got a call to lace them up in Oklahoma City the same night. What to do? 

Legend Buck “Tombstone” Smith (183-20-2, 121 KO’s), the power punching, Midwest boxing legend who, along with having one of boxing’s genuinely great nicknames, registered some incredible numbers.

He fought 205 times as a pro. He recorded 183 wins. He recorded 121 knockouts.

Buck tore up the highways during his incredible 22-year, 205-bout run and would often fight 3-4 times in a month. To say manager Sean Gibbons, with him from the first day until the last, kept him busy would be a slight understatement. 

Smith turned pro in the summer of 1987 and their philosophy from the get-go was “have gloves will travel”. Staying busy mostly on the Midwest circuit, ripe with club shows in the 80s and 90s, it was possible that you could keep very active if you were willing to answer the call. Buck, from Oklahoma City, was in a perfect location to mine the Midwest club scene and he answered the call every time. 

While Sean and Buck chose to stay as busy as possible between big fights with club-level opposition, they weren’t just inflating statistics - make no mistake, Buck could fight. He squared off against some very good boxers in his career.

Before retiring Buck would see action against British star Kirkland Laing, world title challenger Harold Brazier, Hall of Fame champion Buddy McGirt, Australian world title challenger Shannon Taylor, world champion Mark Breland, world champion Antonio Margarito, and Mexican, Hall of Fame legend Julio Cesar Chavez. 

“Under different circumstances, Buck could have been a world champion if he got the right fight”, said manager Gibbons. “The guy pretty much trained himself. But let me tell you, if he caught you with that left hook, which was all world class, it was night night baby - boom”, said Gibbons laughing. “He could crack with that left. Lights out Daddy-O”.

What Gibbons did face during his time keeping his fighter so busy was opposition from certain commissioners that felt this barnstorming schedule of boxing couldn’t or shouldn’t be allowed for one reason or another.   

Gibbons, never one to shy away from a good dust-up, pushed back every time. 

“The commissions were all over me for keeping him so busy, fighting so much; it was ridiculous”, said Gibbons. “It’s what he did for a living, and he was a very skilled boxer who could fight a lot and do it safely because he knew how to box and protect himself in there”, he continued. “It was our philosophy to stay busy between big fights, instead of just hitting a heavy bag for months on end to fight a few times a year”, he said.

So, when Gibbons got the calls for fights in 2 states on the same night, he had to take them. First off, they fought, that’s what they did, and if they could pull it off, they would. And, make no mistake, Gibbons was enjoying giving the middle finger salute to the commissions who seemed dedicated to giving him problems.

“You think Buck fights too much?”, said Gibbons laughing, “watch this”.

On May 19, 1992, Smith would fight early on a card in Wichita, Kansas (driving from Oklahoma City) stopping Marco Davis in the 2nd round. Post-fight, into the car, still in trunks and hand wraps, with Gibbons for the 2 ½ -hour drive back to Oklahoma City where Buck would go a full 6 rounds later in the night winning a decision over Rodney Johnson. 

For those keeping score that’s 1 night, 320 miles, 5 hours, 2 states, 2 bouts, 2 wins.

Last summer I caught up with Buck Smith, who has worked in the electronics industry for years, in Tulsa, Oklahoma and we had some great conversations as he shared his memories of his time in boxing. And, yes, his double-header came up.

“I remember that night as a busy night”, said Smith with a laugh. “I got my stoppage win early in the night. We jumped into the car, me with all my stuff still on, and off we went to our next stop. I had some great times over the years with Sean. We travelled the world, had some great fights; that night was a crazy one indeed”, he said.

31 years ago this month, Buck “Tombstone” Smith who climbed through the ropes all over the United States along with England, Australia, South Africa, and Mexico, made history by recording 2 wins on the same night, in 2 different states.

Only in boxing–ya gotta love it!