Ernest ‘Ernie’ Smith competed in the men’s featherweight boxing at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, losing a close decision on points to the eventual gold medallist Carmelo Robledo of Argentina – a performance that demonstrated the quality that would bring him seven national lightweight titles between 1933 and 1940.

The 1932 national featherweight champion, Smith outboxed Robledo in the opening round with a sharp straight left and repeated hooks to the head, but adopted a more aggressive approach in the second round that played into the hands of an opponent who was highly skilled in close-quarter infighting.

His was described as a defeat ‘by the shortest of short heads’ at the start of a decorated amateur career.