Ishe Smith
| Ishe Smith | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Ishé Oluwa Kamau Ali Smith |
| Nickname(s) | Sugar Shay |
| Rated at | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
July 22, 1978 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 37 |
| Wins | 29 |
| Wins by KO | 12 |
| Losses | 8 |
Ishé Oluwa Kamau Ali Smith (born July 22, 1978), best known as Ishe Smith, is an American professional boxer. He held the IBF junior middleweight title in 2013, and was a competitor on the first season of the reality TV show The Contender in 2005.
Smith grew up in Nevada with his mother and siblings but never knew his father. As an amateur Smith competed on the national stage for years. In 1996 he made it to the finals of the US National Championships, losing a competitive match on points to Héctor Camacho Jr, and semifinals of the U.S. Olympic trials, losing on points to Zab Judah. In 1999, he lost on points in another close bout in the quarterfinals of the US National Championships to Larry Mosley, who went on to win the tournament.
Ishe Smith was a strong prospect early in his career, primarily as a good counter-puncher with excellent defensive skills. He won his first fourteen fights facing generally strong opposition. In 2001, he faced Alfonso Gomez in his fourth pro fight (Alfonso's second pro fight). Smith won via a controversial unanimous decision (due to a low-blow penalty against Gomez that was poorly called) in a four-round fight. Later that year, he beat Norberto Bravo by unanimous decision. Most notably, in 2003 he dominated David "King" Estrada, a fellow hot prospect at the time, beating him by a wide unanimous decision.
In 2004, Smith won his first belts (WBC Continental Welterweight title, WBO NABO Welterweight title, and USBA Welterweight title), beating the former world champion Randall Bailey by a controversial unanimous decision. In an economical punching fight, Smith scored a knockdown in the second round and showed better defense, but Bailey was a bit more active throughout, particularly in the last three rounds with an effective jab. There was little to separate the two men in terms of scoring the fight, but Smith won by scores of 116-111, 117-110, and 114-113.
Ishe took a chance and signed on to do The Contender reality show. He was assigned as a roommate to his former adversary Alfonso Gomez. On the show, he was placed on the West Coast team and fought his rival Ahmed Kaddour in the third episode's fight. Smith won by unanimous decision against Kaddour in a tough fight. Smith criticized Anthony Bonsante for fighting Brent Cooper, whom he did not think was an appropriate competitor. Their bout had no bearing on Smith's standing in the competition.
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