Aussie boxing mourns death of legendary coach Brad Smith
The Australian boxing community has been shattered by the death of a legendary coach who helped create one of the sport’s greatest dynasties. Read the touching tributes here.
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The Australian boxing community has been shattered by the death of Brad Smith who from a small shed in the tiny rural Queensland town of Pittsworth, laid the foundations of a boxing dynasty that has shaped world boxing.
A boxer himself from age eight, Brad started training fighters when he left the army several decades ago.
His son Brendon eventually followed him into the business, going on to train world champions and work with some of boxing’s biggest names including Oscar De La Hoya and Don King.
In a brief but touching tribute on Facebook his family spoke about the strength Bradley showed in recent months to stand alongside his protege Jackson ‘Stoneleigh’ Griffiths for the biggest fight of his career.
Battling ill health on and off for the past year, Bradley shook off another bout to proudly watch Griffiths defend his WBC Australasia Welterweight Title against Jorge Bermudez.
“It was only a couple of weeks ago he fought hard and long to get to the fight! How he did it was unbelievable! He had a heart as big as him self and he gave it to all! Last night we lost one of the greatest men to walk this earth! Bradley Joseph Walter Smith! We thank you for all and love you forever Rest now!”
Brendon said his father had been retired from boxing for more than 20 years before spotting Jackson and deciding to get back into the game.
“I still remember the phone call, dad ringing me and saying ‘I got this young lad here, he’s been breaking in a horse I’ve been training him up and I might train him up for one fight and then I’ll send him into you’,” Brendon said in a previous interview with this masthead.
“I said ‘yeah I’ve heard that one before, I know where this is going, this will be the comeback’.
“So then he had them couple of fights and we talked about turning him pro early but how he has come has been amazing.
“He’s just perfect for what we all stand behind and believe.”
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