Gary Shaw Inks Undefeated Welterweight Ishe Smith

21.03 - Gary Shaw announced today, the signing of undefeated welterweight prospect ISHE (pronounced ee-shay) "SUGAR SHAY" SMITH to the promotional stable of Gary Shaw Productions, LLC (GSP).

Smith, 10-0 (6 KOs), from Las Vegas, NV, came into national prominence last September when Fernando Vargas, while training for his fight with Oscar De La Hoya, talked more about Smith, his chief sparring partner, than he did about his new, chiseled physique.

"Vargas was a one-man public relations campaign for Smith," noted Royce Feour, in his October 12, 2002 Las Vegas Review-Journal column.

Vargas related the following on Smith to Kevin Iole, also from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, just two days before his fight against De La Hoya: "This guy, Ishe Smith, is definitely as fast as him (De La Hoya) and probably faster," Vargas said. "He's going to be a great fighter, and he gave me such great work. He has all those moves that (trainer Floyd) Mayweather is trying to teach (De La Hoya), but it's all natural for him. Oscar has worked with Mayweather for two fights and is trying to learn these moves which I know, too. But Ishe Smith has all that naturally, and he gave me such good work that I gave him a damn good bonus."

"I have a lot of respect for Fernanado Vargas and his opinion," said Shaw. "I know him very well. Hell, I used to promote him. When I heard him heaping the accolades on Ishe before the biggest fight of Fernando's career, I knew this young man had to be someone special. That is a major reason I signed him. I have great hopes for Ishe. Like the great welterweight world champions before him who had the nickname ‘Sugar' – Robinson, Leonard and Mosley – I think Ishe has the potential and the talent to sweeten up the division too."

Smith had an outstanding amateur career, which included a victory over reigning WBO jr. welterweight champion DeMarcus Corley. Smith made it to the semi-finals of the 1996 Olympic trials, losing a very close decision to future world champion Zab Judah. But the loss that irks him the most was a very controversial one, to Hector Camacho, Jr.

"I beat him and he knows I beat him," said Smith. "I am glad he is fighting as a welterweight now. I would love to get another crack at him where amateur politics would have no bearing on the outcome."

"My goal is to become the first Las Vegan to win a world title. I was born and raised here. I would love to be the city's first world champion."

Smith, 24, is scheduled to make his national televison debut as the co-feature on the season premiere of "SHOBox," Thursday, April 24, at 11 P.M. EST.