Pensacola's other boxing icon is changing lives in and out of the ring

Despite many early obstacles standing in his way to success, Pensacola icon and boxing trainer Alfy Smith made a calculated trade off from his dreams of basketball stardom that would later result in a Florida Boxing Hall of Fame career alongside his long-time friend Roy Jones Jr.

Smith details his path navigating life and many difficult circumstances in his recently published book, "Trade Off."

Smith is the former trainer, mitt man and friend of Roy Jones Jr., a retired professional boxer born-and-raised in Pensacola who won 66 out of 76 fights in his 34-year career and is regarded as an all-time great boxer.

Jones Jr. knew that Smith was “his guy” after multiple instances where he was picking up on little movements and tidbits that experienced boxers couldn’t pick up on, much less explain. Both Smith and Jones Jr. are part of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2023 class.

“It was a great moment,” Jones Jr. said of the induction.

“Alfy’s a hell of a guy, he came back from a crazy situation the way he was raised and where his life took him to,” Jones Jr. continued. “He was a guy who I thought had a promising career in basketball but sometimes things sidetracked so we don’t get to go where we want to go, but he finally got to where he wanted and took it to another level.”

Following a successful and long career, Smith now gives back to his hometown community with his time and experience. Smith says that at a young age he internalized the idea of being the biggest cheerleader for not just your own kids, but every kid that you come across, a philosophy that likely guiding him to his current roles as a coach, substitute teacher, behavior tech and student chauffeur for Lighthouse Point Christian Academy.

He feels that everyone should help these kids seize their dreams and embrace what it is that makes them each unique and special.

From the basketball court to the boxing ring

The Harlem Globetrotters were the original flicker for Smith’s fiery passion for basketball. His first time watching a basketball game, he witnessed the wizardry of the Globetrotters’ style of play, which left Smith stunned with “sheer excitement” for the game.

At 8 years old Smith had an itching desire to play basketball but was never picked up by his teenage uncles and their friends for being too little to play. One day, he took initiative and interrupted a game of “21,” swishing three consecutive shots despite never shooting a basketball before in his life.

The moment gave Smith confidence in the legitimacy of his “God-given talent” and a “natural high” in the form of a pursuit he could pour his time and effort into. By age 10, Smith was earning awards and accolades in basketball, football and baseball, even winning MVP and a state championship for the Pensacola Youth All-Stars basketball team.

As his stellar play continued, Smith’s reputation as an acclaimed local athlete and his dreams of playing in the NBA grew. He began his collegiate athletics career at Concordia Junior College in Selma, Alabama, and moved on to Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama, after graduating junior college.

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The natural high that Smith got from playing basketball, as well as his hopes for a professional career in the NBA or overseas, were shattered in an instant when he broke his finger during practice in his senior year.

The finger injury and shift in fortunes Smith experienced sunk him into a depression. After being arrested in Montgomery for cannabis charges – for which he would later spend three months in jail and a few months in a rehab facility – Smith returned to the local basketball court while awaiting his court date away from home.

Coincidentally, Jones Jr., a renowned boxer at this point who had just won a silver medal in the Olympics, would be shooting around at the same courts while expressing his true passion: basketball. Jones Jr. picked Smith for his team, where a friendly fire would be lit under the two as they “kicked butt and took names,” competing together in their first interaction. Despite his sentencing in Alabama and their limited interpersonal interactions, Jones Jr. wrote to Smith and supported his new friend through his time of struggle.

Jones Jr. and Smith’s friendship would continue to grow as they spent time together both in the gym and on the basketball court. Despite being raised to be a competitor and fight everyone, Jones Jr. found a brother and supporter in Smith.

Becoming an "uncle" to Pensacola's sports community

After Smith’s first time attending Jones Jr.’s sparring sessions, his ability to pick up on the boxer’s quicker, less noticeable movements during his combos impressed Jones Jr. He tested Smith’s awareness again the next day and was impressed once again. Jones Jr. put Smith on his payroll the very next day.

“There were guys in the boxing gym with me at the time that would miss the things that he would catch, and it was crazy because these guys were actually boxers but they couldn’t understand or see what I was doing but he could catch it,” Jones Jr. said. “He was a quick learner and I knew that if he learned that quickly then he’d be good at teaching and be helpful.”

Smith recounted, “When I started watching other fights on TV, I’d work (both) corners and (think) what would I be telling him, and what would I be telling him. Boxing ain’t no part-time job, this is a full-time job.”

Jones Jr. and Smith would work together through the end of the former’s career, but beyond work, the two formed a strong bond as friends and sons of Pensacola. Throughout many of Smith’s darkest moments, Jones Jr. lent a shoulder and then some in order to support his friend through the deaths of his grandfather, mother, wife and more.

After his mother’s death, Smith felt a need to become more involved in the community and supporting the youth in his reach. He now spends most of his days at Lighthouse Point Christian Academy where many of the children lovingly refer to him as “Unc.”

Despite the amount of time Smith dedicates to the education and wellbeing of his students, he still finds opportunities to train young up-and-coming boxers who grew up in the same community as him.

“I’ve (known) him so long he just feels like my uncle,” said Saben Cura, one of Pensacola’s homegrown boxers who currently has an undefeated record of 11 wins and 0 losses.

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Cura began karate, and soon boxing, after being inspired by the original Karate Kid film and has been training in the sport since he was 7 years old. Smith has assisted him over the years. Cura says that his two favorite boxers are Jones Jr. and Manny Pacquio, who he takes inspiration from as well.

During a training session for his fight against Raymond Chacon on Oct. 14, Cura and Smith explained the use of speed in his fighting style over the years and its effectiveness.

“Speed is power, you got to have those,” Smith said. “I’m gonna sharpen you up the way you fight, it just so happens that he got some Roy stuff, he's learning some of it and he’s learning good.”

Cura hopes that the Pensacola boxing community is able to continue growing and be an outlet for some people like it was for him and his peers growing up

Smith’s book Trade Off can be found online as well as in many bookstores, including the Barnes and Noble off of Airport Boulevard. He also has a documentary underway, but a release date is not yet confirmed.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Roy Jones Jr. Pensacola boxing icon Alfy Smith releases Trade Off book