Neighbors: China Smith

In Chinese culture, 2012 is the year of the Dragon — one of the luckiest years in Chinese history. Which is why it is perfect that China “The Dragon” Smith Jr. is coming out of retirement to make a comeback in the world of boxing.

Born and raised in Sarasota, Smith grew up boxing with his father, China Smith Sr., and playing football.

“My dad had me going around running and doing (boxing) drills when I was 3,” Smith remembers.

Although Smith’s father, who boxed for a hobby, pushed for him to focus more on boxing, Smith had success in a different field. He made the varsity football team as a freshman at Riverview High School and quickly became a star. By the time he was a senior, Smith was offered football scholarships from the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Miami, Michigan, and Notre Dame.

When the time came to decide what he would do once he graduated high school, he surprised everyone by turning down all the scholarships in hopes of becoming a professional boxer. He entered the amateur ranks and found success quickly.

“When I was 17, I took on a 26-year-old guy and won the fight,” he says. “My dad and I were like, ‘Might as well go pro and get paid.’”

Smith went to spar in Tampa the summer after high school in hopes of getting noticed. He lost his first fight but came back the next day and won against the guy who had beaten him. This caught the attention of the media, the boxing community and Tampa-based boxing trainer Henry Grooms.

“I told him (Grooms) I didn’t want to leave my family, and the guy liked that about me.”

In 1998, at age 18, Smith moved to Tampa to start his professional career.

“Tampa was the biggest fight area other than Vegas,” Smith says. “We had myself, Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright, Roy Jones and Jeff Lacey all in the Bay Area.”

Smith won his first professional belt in 2001 after defeating Darrel Dixon in the Nation Boxing Association Continental Championship. To date, Smith has won two NBA Continental Championships and two NBA World Championships.

In 2007, he decided to take a break from the world of boxing and return to Sarasota.

“There was a lot going on, and I was still young and I wanted to relax and go do some community work.”

Smith started up his own non-profit, China Smith and Friends Inc., to work with kids in the community and become a mentor on a variety of levels. Smith also helped put on a five-week summer boxing fitness camp at Sarasota Military Academy and is running a similar organization and boxing program at the Police Athletic League of Manatee County.

“It is a different gym from most gyms,” he says. “My kids don’t ever have to fight. They can just work out and get in shape in a safe environment.”

These days he is known by many as “The People’s Champ,” a name he gained from area residents who have been touched by his compassion.

This year, Smith will return to professional boxing. His first fight since 2006 is set to take place in April in Detroit, Mich., and he’s hoping to get some fighting time in China in the near future.

“I always tell kids, ‘Never give up on your dreams,’” he says. “You don’t want to wish ‘I coulda, shoulda.’ By doing this, I am practicing what I preach, and I’m not just talking about it but pursuing it.”