“The Fighting Hillbilly” Honored:

Fort Smith Pays Tribute To Bobby Crabtree!

(July 14th) The City of Fort Smith has officially approved the honorary designation of a portion of Towson Avenue as Bobby Crabtree Boulevard, recognizing one of Arkansas' toughest and most respected professional boxers while celebrating his decades of dedication to the Fort Smith community.

The honorary street signs will be installed on Towson Avenue between South L Street and South M Street, directly in front of the longtime location of Crabtree's family-owned auto body business. A public unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Evangel Temple, 1201 Towson Avenue, with festivities beginning at 1:00 p.m. and the official sign unveiling taking place at 2:30 p.m. Community leaders, local residents, boxing supporters, and special guests are expected to participate in the celebration.

"This recognition celebrates a local athlete whose determination, grit, and accomplishments brought national attention to Fort Smith," city officials said following unanimous approval of the honorary designation.

Known throughout the boxing world as "The Fighting Hillbilly," Bobby Crabtree built a reputation as one of the sport's most fearless competitors during an era when elite fighters routinely accepted the toughest available opponents. A native of Lavaca, Arkansas, and longtime Fort Smith resident, Crabtree compiled an extraordinary professional career spanning 20 years, from 1982 through 2002.

Fighting primarily as a southpaw cruiserweight while also competing in the heavyweight division, Crabtree amassed a professional record of 56 victories, 35 defeats, and one draw in 93 professional bouts, boxing 309 rounds. Of his 56 victories, 51 came by knockout, giving him an exceptional 91.07 percent knockout rate in victories—one of the highest finishing percentages among professional cruiserweights of his era.

Rather than carefully selecting opponents, Crabtree became known for accepting challenges against many of boxing's most accomplished fighters. His résumé includes bouts with former world champions and top contenders such as George Foreman, Michael Moorer, Trevor Berbick, Tony Tucker, Francesco Damiani, Andrew Golota, Michael Dokes, James "Quick" Tillis, Renaldo Snipes, and James Broad.

His willingness to face boxing's elite earned him tremendous respect throughout the sport, where he became known as a durable, dangerous opponent capable of changing a fight with a single punch.

Among the defining moments of Crabtree's career was his stunning first-round knockout of previously undefeated heavyweight prospect King Ipitan in 1994. One year later, on February 25, 1995, Crabtree achieved the greatest victory of his professional career by upsetting the undefeated Kenny Keene (30-0) to capture the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Cruiserweight Championship before hometown supporters in Fort Smith.

Another memorable chapter came during George Foreman's legendary comeback, when Crabtree reportedly stunned the future two-time heavyweight champion during their 1987 contest, briefly reminding fans that even boxing's biggest names could not overlook the hard-hitting Arkansan.

Throughout his career, Crabtree became synonymous with old-school prizefighting—accepting difficult assignments, traveling wherever opportunities arose, and earning admiration for his toughness, professionalism, and relentless fighting spirit.

While his accomplishments inside the ring earned international recognition, Crabtree's commitment to Fort Smith extended far beyond boxing.

For more than three decades, he has owned and operated Crabtree Paint & Body Shop on Towson Avenue, where generations of customers have come to know him for his craftsmanship, honesty, and work ethic. The location of the honorary boulevard carries particular significance, as it sits along the same roadway where Crabtree built both his business and his reputation within the community.

Friends and neighbors have long regarded him as a hardworking small-business owner whose humility matched the toughness he displayed inside the boxing ring.

The naming of Bobby Crabtree Boulevard represents more than recognition of an accomplished athlete—it honors a lifetime of perseverance, resilience, and hometown pride.

Few professional fighters have balanced a demanding two-decade boxing career while simultaneously building a successful local business and remaining deeply rooted in the community they proudly represented. Crabtree's story reflects the values that have long defined Fort Smith: determination, hard work, loyalty, and grit.

With the installation of Bobby Crabtree Boulevard, Fort Smith ensures that future generations will remember not only one of Arkansas' most accomplished professional boxers, but also a hometown citizen whose impact reached far beyond the ropes.

Bobby Crabtree Career Summary

Nickname: The Fighting Hillbilly

Place of Birth: Lavaca, Arkansas

Residence: Fort Smith, Arkansas

Professional Career: 1982–2002

Division: Cruiserweight / Heavyweight

Stance: Southpaw

Professional Bouts: 93

Rounds: 309

KO%: 91.07% 

Record: 56-35-1, 51Ko's

World Title: WBF Cruiserweight Champion-1995 WSD12 vs 30-0 Kenny Keene

The honorary designation of Bobby Crabtree Boulevard stands as a permanent tribute to one of Arkansas boxing's most fearless competitors and to a Fort Smith citizen whose legacy continues to inspire both inside and outside the ring.