Solly Smith

“The Celtic Mexican”

Boxing · Deceased

30-13-20 (3 NC)RECORD

18WINS BY KO / TKO

12WINS BY DECISION

66PRO FIGHTS

Profile

Full name	Solomon Garcia Smith
Nickname	The Celtic Mexican
Date of birth	6 Mar 1871
Died	28 Aug 1933
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Los Angeles, US
Based in	Not added yet
Weight classes	Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight
Trainers	Not added yet
Height	168 cm (5′6″)
Reach	178 cm (70″)
Stance	Orthodox
Years active	1888–1904
Status	Deceased
Pro debut	1 Jul 1888
Last fight	Loss vs Billy Snailham, 26 Aug 1904

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

World featherweight champion (1897–1898)

Background

Solly Smith was an American featherweight from Los Angeles, born to a Mexican mother and an Irish father, and is regarded as the first world champion of Hispanic descent. He won the world featherweight title from George Dixon in 1897 and lost it to Dave Sullivan in 1898.

Fight history

66 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Billy Snailham	KO	3	26 Aug 1904	Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, US
Loss	Billy DeCoursey	KO	10	11 Nov 1902	Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, US
Loss	Kid McFadden	Disqualification	7	5 Sep 1901	Oak Park, Sacramento, California, US
Draw	Joe Bernstein	Decision (points)	20	18 Jun 1901	Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, US
Draw	Joe Bernstein	Decision (points)	20	10 May 1900	Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, US
Loss	Joe Bernstein	Disqualification	14	22 Jun 1900	Broadway A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Billy Maynard	KO	10	28 May 1900	Sampson A.C., New York City, New York, US
Draw	Turkey Point Billy Smith	Decision (points)	6	17 Mar 1900	Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, US
Loss	Billy Barrett	Decision (points)	20	3 Mar 1900	Greenwood A.C., New York City, New York, US
Draw	Frank Patterson	Decision (points)	25	15 Jan 1900	Hercules A.C., New York City, New York, US
Loss	Jack McClelland	Disqualification	6	2 Oct 1899	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Loss	Joe Bernstein	KO	13	18 Aug 1899	Broadway A.C., New York City, New York, US
Draw	Frank Patterson	Decision (points)	25	10 Jul 1899	Coney Island A.C., New York City, New York, US
Draw	Frank Patterson	Decision (points)	20	20 May 1899	Greenwood A.C., New York City, New York, US
Loss	Oscar Gardner	KO	6	7 Feb 1899	Lenox A.C., New York City, New York, US	For featherweight championship of America
Loss	Dave Sullivan	TKO	5	26 Sep 1898	Greater New York A.C., New York City, New York, US	Lost world featherweight title
Draw	Tommy White	Decision (points)	25	1 Aug 1898	Greater New York A.C., New York City, New York, US	Retained world featherweight title
Win	Billy O'Donnell	Disqualification	7	7 Jul 1898	Olympic A.C., Buffalo, New York, US	Retained world featherweight title
Draw	Eddie Santry	Decision (points)	6	18 Apr 1898	Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, US
Win	George Dixon	Decision (points)	20	4 Oct 1897	Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US	Won world featherweight title
Win	Johnny Griffin	KO	7	20 Aug 1897	Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US
Win	Martin Flaherty	Decision (points)	25	4 May 1897	Broadway A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Oscar Gardner	Decision (points)	20	13 Mar 1897	Broadway A.C., New York City, New York, US
Draw	Tommy White	Decision (points)	25	12 Jan 1897	Bohemian Sporting Club, New York City, New York, US
Win	Willie Smith	TKO	8	9 Nov 1896	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, UK	Billed world 118 lb title
Draw	Johnny Lavack	Decision (points)	10	30 Jun 1896	Red Cross Rink, Cleveland, Ohio, US
Win	Frank Patterson	Decision (points)	10	22 Jun 1896	Eastern A.C., New York City, New York, US
Draw	Dolly Lyons	Decision (points)	10	1 Jun 1896	South Brooklyn A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Jerry Barnett	TKO	5	21 Mar 1896	Grand Central Palace, New York City, New York, US	Police intervened
Draw	Johnny Lavack	Decision (points)	15	22 Feb 1896	West Newton Street Armory, Boston, Massachusetts, US
Win	Torpedo Billy Murphy	TKO	14	23 Dec 1895	Olympic Club, New Orleans, Louisiana, US	Police intervened
Win	George Siddons	Decision (unanimous)	8	15 May 1895	Manhattan A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Jack Mullen	Decision (points)	6	11 Apr 1895	Leland Opera House, Albany, New York, US
No contest	Jerome Quigley	No contest	4	22 Mar 1895	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US	No decision
No contest	Billy McCarthy	No contest	4	16 Mar 1895	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US	No decision
Draw	Tom Denny	Decision (points)	10	4 Mar 1895	Seaside A.C., Coney Island, New York, US
Loss	Oscar Gardner	Disqualification	5	27 Nov 1894	Buffalo A.C., Buffalo, New York, US
Draw	Johnny Van Heest	Decision (points)	15	26 Oct 1894	Buffalo A.C., Buffalo, New York, US
Draw	Frank Erne	Decision (points)	10	2 Oct 1894	Liedertafel Hall, Buffalo, New York, US
Draw	George "Kid" Lavigne	Decision (points)	8	7 Mar 1894	Arbeiter Hall, Saginaw, Michigan, US
Draw	Young Griffo	Decision (points)	6	3 Jan 1894	Tivoli Theater, Chicago, Illinois, US
Win	Dan Ryan	Disqualification	4	1 Dec 1893	Tivoli Theater, Chicago, Illinois, US
Win	Jimmy Murphy	KO	2	13 Nov 1893	Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, US
Loss	George Dixon	TKO	7	25 Sep 1893	Coney Island A.C., New York City, New York, US	Lost world featherweight title claim
Win	Johnny Griffin	KO	4	10 Jul 1893	Columbian Athletic Club, Roby, Indiana, US	Won world featherweight title claim
Loss	Oscar Gardner	KO	6	10 Jun 1893	Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Loss	Oscar Gardner	Decision (points)	6	8 May 1893	Phoenix A.C., Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
Win	Frankie McHugh	Decision (points)	6	15 Apr 1893	2nd Regiment Armory, Chicago, Illinois, US	Newspaper decision
Win	Johnny Van Heest	KO	14	29 Dec 1892	California A.C., San Francisco, California, US
Draw	George Siddons	Decision (points)	56	29 Sep 1892	California A.C., San Francisco, California, US
Win	Dan Daly	KO	3	8 Jul 1892	Pacific A.C., San Francisco, California, US
Win	Dal Hawkins	KO	13	24 May 1892	California A.C., San Francisco, California, US
Win	Harry Dally	Decision (points)	4	30 Mar 1892	California A.C., San Francisco, California, US
Win	Tommy Smith	KO	2	25 Feb 1892	New Cribb A.C., Los Angeles, California, US
Win	Danny Mahoney	KO	15	3 Dec 1891	Pastime A.C., Los Angeles, California, US	Won vacant featherweight Championship of the Coast
Win	Billy Manning	KO	6	27 Aug 1891	Pastime A.C., Los Angeles, California, US	Won vacant Southern California bantamweight title
Draw	Dave Williams	Decision (points)	10	3 Sep 1890	Pasadena, California, US
Win	Young Abbott	Decision (points)	4	5 Dec 1889	Los Angeles, California, US	Date approximate
Win	Billy Jones	TKO	13	1 Dec 1889	Los Angeles, California, US	Date approximate
Win	Pete Cummings	TKO	1	1 Nov 1889	Los Angeles, California, US
Win	Young Billy Moore	TKO	5	1 Oct 1889	Los Angeles, California, US	Date approximate
Win	Young Billy Moore	Decision (points)		1 Sep 1889	Los Angeles, California, US	Date approximate
Win	Jack Golden	KO	2	1 Jun 1889	Los Angeles, California, US
No contest	Joe 'Kid' Hogan	No contest	29	12 Dec 1888	Sacramento, California, US
Draw	Joe Soto	Decision (points)	6	1 Aug 1888	Los Angeles, California, US	Date approximate
Win	Billy Smith	TKO	7	1 Jul 1888	Los Angeles, California, US	Pro debut; Date approximate

Record source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).