Originally Posted by
fcvan
Just a guess, but pugilism was likely learned during his time in NY as a cop. Cops who could box was a must when dealing with British and Irish immigrants. I had a partner who was a Bobby in London in the 60s. He said only special constables had guns and so they relied on their fists. He moved to Canada and worked corrections there where boxing skills were the only tools they had. He emigrated to the US, joined the Army and became a citizen, later working corrections in Calif.
One night, his partner was head-butted and knocked out. Brian threw two punches, two knockouts. Brian was 5'10" maybe 175 lbs, these two crips were both over 6' and 240 lbs plus. He cuffed them both and then revived his partner. I asked him about it later and he just smiled and said "like I told you mate, if you box their ears they won't bugger with you. You have to learn to box." I think Smith learned to fight out of necessity on the streets of New York just like Brian did in London.