He became famous world-wide for his boxing success and also became infamous for his associations and involvement with criminal activities in Portland, Oregon, in the early 1900s.

[3] William's older brother Thomas Dakin Smith moved from the East Coast to the state of Oregon in late 1887.

Amos William Smith fought Ed Harvey to a draw on December 1, 1890, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.

[7][citation needed] In early 1891 (age 19), William Amos Smith traveled from the East Coast (Canada/USA) to San Francisco, California, to pursue his boxing career.

He boxed at the following venues in San Francisco from January 20, 1892, to March 21, 1892: William fought two exhibitions matches against older established boxers.

On January 1, 1892, William Amos Smith (age 20), beat Billy Kelly on points at the California Athletic Club.

His older brother Thomas Dakin Smith, age 23, had previously moved from Canada to Portland, Oregon, and was living there since 1887.

[14] On April 9, 1892, William traveled by steamship from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon, with another boxer named George "Kid" Lavigne.

[11] On September 20, 1892, William beat Billy (Shadow) Maber by KO at the Pastime Athletic Club in Portland, Oregon.

[15] On December 14, 1892, the San Francisco newspaper, The Morning Call, published and previewed and upcoming fight between Billy Smith of Oregon and Danny Needham of Oakland.

On July 26, 1894, William, age 23, Lost the World Welterweight boxing title to Tommy Ryan at the Twin City Athletic Club in Minneapolis, MN by points.

On March 5, 1896, William fought three boxers on the same day and beat them all: Trooper Ham, Jack Bryan and Arthur Morris at Tottenham Court at Road Store Street Hall.

[27] On July 9, 1898, age 27, William married Mary "Maime" Cavanagh in College Point, Queens, New York, USA.

[citation needed] Smith turned pro in 1890 and in his ninth fight, he knocked out Danny Needham to win the World welterweight championship in 1892.

During his career, Smith scored wins over Young Peter Jackson, Hall of Famers “Barbados” Joe Walcott and George “Kid” Lavigne.

Smith died at the age of 66 in Portland, Oregon, where he ran a saloon called “The Champion's Rest.” He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.

Standing 5' 8 ½”, Smith was a talented two-fisted battler with quick hands who entered the ring ready to wage war.

He often displayed a blatant disregard for the rules, resorting to a variety of foul tactics including but not limited to elbows, butts, knees and sometimes even biting.