In Summer 1905, Messrs May & Cyclops hosted a travelling boxing saloon tent in Blantyre. The business employed several “star” boxers who would take on local men for big prizemoney, usually generated by purse monies of the audiences. One such fight took place between Blantyre’s Joe Smith and one of the travellers, Mr. Pasha Liffey. […]
In 1906, Blantyre was gripped by boxing enthusiasm. This was no caused by visiting promoters who set up at grounds near Craighead (which would eventually become the speedway and later the EK Expressway at Lidl) On Monday 19th November 1906, an enormous boxing match took place which must have been of special interest to boxing […]
Mr. Joseph Smith – was more commonly known as Joe. Joseph was born at Causeystanes on 28th August 1887 in Blantyre, the son of John Smith and Margaret Keegans. He made a success of his hobby, boxing and became the bare-knuckle champion of Scotland in 1906. Joseph married Annie McGorgary in 1908 at the relatively new […]
Steve Smith and I have been conversing these last few evenings. Steve told me, “I visited Blantyre many times to see my Aunt Mary , Uncle Willie and regularly went to Niaroo to visit my Uncle Hughie along with my Dad James Smith. Joe Smith, (the father of John, Hugh, Joe, William, James, Terence, Daniel, […]