From Boxing Ring to Mail Route: Ishe Smith’s Journey of Strength and Survival

When Ishe Smith finally became Las Vegas’ first homegrown world champion in 2013, tears streamed down his face as he shouted, “Thirteen years! Thirteen years!” He had fought hard and overcome countless challenges, and winning the belt was proof of all his effort and sacrifice.

That night marked the high point of a career shaped by hard work and sacrifices. Yet, the toughest battle of his life happened years later, outside the boxing ring.

From Ringside to Real-Life Struggles

Smith’s childhood love, Latoya Woolen, has been by his side all along. She shared his journey. On The Contender, she said, “When he steps into the ring, he isn’t just fighting for himself—he’s fighting for our family.”

When his marriage ended, Smith came very close to giving up on life. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he said, “The gun was right there in front of me, loaded. I was just a moment away from using it. I felt so depressed and heartbroken. My childhood sweetheart was leaving me and taking my kids. I was extremely close to doing it.”

What stopped him was thinking about his children. “I realized they would grow up without a father. I thought, ‘This would be selfish. I can’t do to them what my dad did to me.’ And I didn’t.”

Smith held on. He remarried, had another son, and even adopted two more children, continuing to build and nurture his family.

The Tragedy That Shook His Life

In 2017, Latoya was tragically shot in the back of the head near UNLV, leaving behind three of Smith’s children. “Growing up with someone like that, you share so many memories, and to see them senselessly taken was really hard for me,” he said. That moment marked a turning point in his life. “It was a difficult time in my career. It made me rethink everything. I realized I was fighting a completely different kind of battle.” Boxing no longer felt the same. After suffering a tough defeat, his son begged him to stop. “I told him, ‘All right, I will never fight again.’ And that was the end of it.” Smith walked away from the ring. Now, at 47, he works as a mailman in Las Vegas.

“At least this job is honorable. A hard day’s work gives you a fair day’s pay,” he said. For Ishe Smith, life became about more than championship belts. He endured the loss of the mother of his children and faced struggles most people can’t imagine, yet he kept standing strong for his family. He fought in the ring, yes, but the real fight was for his kids. He never gave up and became the kind of father and man his children could proudly call their hero.