Son of famous Sarasota boxer sentenced for murder

SARASOTA, Fla. — Howard China Smith III, the son of two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World China Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Smith III was convicted of second-degree murder and attempted robbery, according to a release from Florida State Attorney Ed Brodsky. This verdict follows the tragic ambush and murder of Todd Reaves, who was shot while returning home to his parents’ house in the Newtown neighborhood of Sarasota seven years prior.

The shooting occurred on January 20, 2018. Just two months later, police investigating an unrelated matter discovered the firearm used in the shooting, along with the getaway vehicle, at Smith’s residence.

“It would take many more years, however, for someone to come forward with an explanation for the murder,” the state attorney’s office reported.

According to the office, a witness heard Smith III say, “I had to shoot him because he tried to buck the jack.” This testimony played a crucial role in the investigation.

“It was the defendant’s own statement made to a confidant but overheard by a witness that provided the answers detectives had been seeking,” stated the state attorney’s office. “When questioned, the defendant, caught off guard, sealed his own fate by denying undeniable facts that only someone involved in the murder would need to deny.”

After a four-day trial in April, Smith III was found guilty of the charges brought against him.

China Smith, regarded as “The Dragon,” boasts a career record of 35 wins, 5 losses, and 27 knockouts. Aside from boxing, he is committed to motivational speaking, advocating against gun violence, as demonstrated in his discussions back in 2019.