Journeyman boxer Ishe Smith puts strife in past for shot at IBF title
Ishe Smith had arrived at the Mayweather Boxing Club. As he made his way to a ring to begin his workout, he plopped his equipment bag on the floor.
A slogan was embroidered on the side: “Greatness Is Within.”
The 34-year-old Las Vegan hopes to tap his inner greatness and emerge as the IBF junior middleweight champion against 39-year-old Cornelius “K9” Bundrage on Saturday in Bundrage’s hometown of Detroit.
It would culminate an arduous journey, in and out of the ring, for the Durango High School graduate. He was an outstanding amateur, earned fame on the boxing reality series “The Contender” and has battled injury, inactivity, bad decisions, a divorce and depression along the way.
“It’s been a long road,” said Smith, who turned pro in 2000 and has a record of 24-5 with 11 knockouts. “But right now, my mind is only on one thing — winning. I’ve always dreamed of being the first native-born Las Vegan to win a world championship, and now I’ve got my chance.”
Five years ago, that dream was on the verge of being snuffed out. Smith wasn’t sure he wanted to compete anymore. His career had stalled, and he couldn’t get a fight. He had three children he was trying to raise, and his marriage was on the rocks. He was so frustrated, he contemplated suicide.
“I was in a real dark place,” Smith said. “Golden Boy (Promotions) had released me out of the blue. My marriage had crumbled. I had slipped into depression. Boxing was the last thing on my mind.
“I even thought of taking my own life. But I couldn’t do it.”
Then Smith met Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, who recalled the promise Smith had shown as a young fighter and believed he wasn’t finished.
“The ability was always there,” Muhammad said. “He just lacked direction and focus.”
Muhammad began training Smith in 2009, working to improve the fighter’s footwork and defense and helping him become a better counterpuncher.
“He’s a complete fighter now,” Muhammad said. “He moves better. He throws his combinations better. His defense is better. He’s everything I want.”
Muhammad also became a confidante, giving Smith someone he could talk to about things beyond boxing.
“I never had a father figure in my life,” Smith said. “I have a lot of love for him.”
The same can be said for Floyd Mayweather Jr., who had used Smith as a sparring partner before signing him to a promotional deal in September.
“He made me feel like a little brother,” Smith said of Mayweather, who is preparing for his own fight May 4 against Robert Guerrero. “I go back a long way with Floyd from when he first came to Vegas in the early ’90s. He’s been so supportive of me.”
When Mayweather was incarcerated in Clark County Detention Center last summer following his domestic battery conviction, Smith wrote to him. Mayweather responded, telling Smith to keep working hard and a world title shot would come his way.
“He didn’t have to do that,” Smith said. “I mean, the guy’s in jail and he’s worried about me and my career? That meant the world to me.”
Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s co-manager, said signing Smith was an easy call.
“He was a tremendous fighter but he didn’t have a lot of luck,” Ellerbe said. “We thought the timing was right to bring him on board.”
On Sept. 8, Smith won a 10-round decision over Irving Garcia at the Hard Rock Hotel. But he hurt his right hand in the fight and Smith feared the worst.
“I thought to myself, ‘Here we go again’ and I was going to be out of action for a long time,” he said.
But fellow boxer Kevin Newman recommended that Smith have his hand examined by Dr. Jedediah Jones at Hand Surgery Specialists of Nevada. Smith, who had aggravated the tissue on the top of his knuckle, told Jones he couldn’t afford to be out for an extended period.
“We were able to avoid surgery by bracing up his hand and giving his hand adequate rest,” Jones said. “You want to avoid surgery whenever possible. So we had Ishe take six weeks off and the tissue was able to heal.”
Smith returned to training in early November and says, “The hand feels great. No problems at all.”
With his health intact and immediate future secure, Smith said he never has felt this confident going into a fight.
“It’s gone so smooth, it’s scary sometimes,” he said. “I’m so used to something bad happening. But I’m finally getting to be on the biggest stage and I want to show the kids in Vegas that you can realize your dreams if you stick with it.”
Smith and Bundrage (32-4, 19 KOs) were initially to support Devon Alexander’s IBF welterweight title defense against Kell Brook. But when Alexander had to pull out of the fight Feb. 4 after injuring his biceps in training, Smith’s fight was bumped up to the main event on Showtime. He’s so confident, Smith’s not even worried about potentially getting robbed by the judges in Bundrage’s hometown.
“I’m ready for anything,” Smith said. “Eddie has me totally prepared.”
Muhammad and Ellerbe have no doubt Smith will leave Detroit as a world champion.
“He knows what he has to do — follow the game plan and do what he does,” Muhammad said. “K9 is an A-B-C fighter — left jab, right hand, left hook. He fights like the Mummy and very few mummies catch fast guys.”
Ellerbe said: “Everything in life is about timing. Ishe’s had a great training camp. He’s in a very comfortable situation and he has a tremendous amount of focus. Now it’s his time.”
Smith, who is deeply religious, said this was God’s plan all along.
“He tested me and I never lost faith, even in the darkest days,” he said. “I’ve been through so much to get to this point. I believe it’s meant to be.”
Perhaps the greatness within finally will be realized.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.