On December 12, 1986, James Smith and Tim Witherspoon met again in a rematch.
Smith came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 56% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 19 days. Witherspoon was on a 7-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 23 days.
James Smith made quick work of Tim Witherspoon in the rematch, stopping the champion via KO in the 1st. Smith improves his record to 19-5 (14 KOs), while Witherspoon adds a loss to his record at 25-3.
On April 5, 1986, a 33-year-old James Smith (15-5, 12 KOs) and a 34-year-old Mike Weaver (28-11-1, 19 KOs) met in the ring.
Smith came in to the fight on a 2-fight losing streak with a 60% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 13 days. Weaver was on a 1-fight win streak with a 47% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 month and 20 days.
James Smith stopped Mike Weaver via TKO in the 1st round. Smith improves his record to 16-5 (13 KOs), while Weaver adds a loss to his record at 28-12-1.
On March 7, 1987, the 33-year-old WBA heavyweight champion, James Smith (19-5, 14 KOs), and the 20-year-old WBC heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (28-0, 26 KOs) met in a title-unification fight.
Smith came in to the fight on a 4-fight win streak with a 58% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 23 days. Tyson was on a 28-fight win streak with a 92% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 13 days.
Mike Tyson defeated James Smith via unanimous decision and unifies the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles. Tyson improves his record to 29-0, while Smith adds a loss to his record at 19-6.
On September 14, 1993, a 40-year-old James Smith (36-11-1, 28 KOs) and Elijah Tillery met in the ring.
Smith came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 58% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 7 days.
James Smith stopped Elijah Tillery via TKO in the 6th round. Smith improves his record to 37-11-1 (29 KOs)
On May 13, 1984, a 31-year-old James Smith (13-1, 11 KOs) and a 22-year-old British boxer Frank Bruno (21-0, 21 KOs) met in the ring.
Smith came in to the fight on a 13-fight win streak with a 78% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 24 days. Bruno was on a 21-fight win streak with a 100% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months.
James Smith stopped Frank Bruno via KO in the 10th round. Smith improves his record to 14-1 (12 KOs), while Bruno adds a loss to his record at 21-1.
On April 4, 1990, a 37-year-old James Smith (23-8-1, 18 KOs) and a 38-year-old Mike Weaver (34-14-1, 24 KOs) met in the ring for the 2nd time, in a heavyweight bout.
Smith came in to the fight on a 4-fight win streak with a 56% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 15 days. Weaver was on a 3-fight win streak with a 49% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 8 months and 8 days.
In the rematch, James Smith defeated Mike Weaver via unanimous decision in the 12-round heavyweight fight. Smith improves his record to 24-8-1, while Weaver adds a loss to his record at 34-15-1.
On July 22, 1991, a 38-year-old James Smith (26-8-1, 20 KOs) and Kimmuel Odum met in the ring in a cruiserweight bout.
Smith came in to the fight on a 7-fight win streak with a 57% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 24 days.
James Smith stopped Kimmuel Odum via TKO in the 3rd round. Smith improves his record to 27-8-1 (21 KOs)
On February 27, 1993, a 39-year-old James Smith (33-10-1, 26 KOs) and a 25-year-old Michael Moorer (30-0, 28 KOs) met in the ring.
Smith came in to the fight on a 1-fight losing streak with a 59% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 8 months and 1 day. Moorer was on a 30-fight win streak with a 93% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 14 days.
Michael Moorer defeated James Smith via unanimous decision in the 10-round fight. Moorer improves his record to 31-0, while Smith adds a loss to his record at 33-11-1.
On November 9, 1984, a 31-year-old James Smith (14-1, 12 KOs) got a shot at the heavyweight IBF title held by 35-year-old Larry Holmes (45-0, 32 KOs).
Smith came in to the fight on a 14-fight win streak with a 80% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 27 days. Holmes was on a 45-fight win streak with a 71% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 11 months and 15 days.
Larry Holmes stopped James Smith via TKO in the 12th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles. Holmes improves his record to 46-0 (33 KOs), while Smith adds a loss to his record at 14-2.
On April 28, 1991, a 38-year-old James Smith (24-8-1, 18 KOs) and Lawrence Carter met in the ring.
Smith came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 54% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 year and 24 days.
James Smith stopped Lawrence Carter via TKO in the 1st round. Smith improves his record to 25-8-1 (19 KOs)