TRAVIS “THE Terror” Clark, left, is pictured with Jeremy Smith, also known as the World’s Stongest Dwarf. The two met while working out at Westside Barbell in Columbus, and when Smith asked Clark to help him in an upcoming boxing match, Clark was more than willing. Six months later and Smith now has two championship belts.

MORRISTOWN — Jeremy “Dynamite” Smith has been battling the odds his entire life. Now, the 24-year-old, is trying to even things out.

Born with dwarfism, Smith has developed from a world champion powerlifter to an undefeated boxer under the tutelage of the Ohio Valley’s Travis “The Terror” Clark, who has held various MMA and Boxing titles in his career.

“We met at Westside Barbell in Columbus where we both train. We became friends and Jeremy asked me if I would help him get ready for an upcoming boxing match,” Clark recalled of that meeting about six months ago with the World’s Strongest Dwarf. “I started working with him at my gym. He’s fought twice and has won two championship belts.

“Right now he is considered the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet,'” Clark continued. “He has gotten linked up with Barstool Sports and Rough N’ Rowdy.”

Westside Barbell is an elite, invitation-only powerlifting gym.

After winning the Barstool Sports BMFM title in Clarksburg, Smith defended his belt and collected a second title with a convincing victory over former WWE superstar Hornswoggle in a Rough n’ Rowdy 14 event in Morgantown. The fight was stopped at 1:31 of the second round as Smith continually pounded the body of Hornswoggle.

“We beat him hands-down,” Clark said. “He said afterwards that Jeremy was the most athletic and powerful dwarf he had ever fought, or even seen.”

Clark said he is not surprised with Smith’s accomplishments.

“Jeremy works very, very hard in the gym. He has world records for powerlifting in multiple weight classes. We’re trying to give him an outlet to speak on what he wants to speak on. This gives him a platform to get it out there,” Clark noted. “Jeremy works harder than anyone I’ve ever met. I think the sky is the limit for him.”

Smith wants to stress to those afflicted with dwarfism can get in the ring and compete against others their size.

“I’m trying to enlist more dwarfs to get into boxing. I’ve been approached by a lot of dwarfs out there that are interested, but they think they have to fight against average-sized people. They don’t,” he said. “That is what I am trying to get out there.”

Dwarfism is short stature that results from a genetic or medical condition. It is generally defined as an adult height of 4-10 or less, with the average height for individuals with dwarfism is 4-feet.

Smith is 4-6 and tips the scales at 138 pounds. You would never know that he can bench press more than 320 pounds and squat 745!

“There are a lot of dwarfs that wrestle in high school but after that they don’t know what to do with their talents,” Smith explained. “Most let their talents go to waste. This is a great opportunity for them to continue using their talents by staying active and being competitive.”

From Powerlifter to Boxer

“As many know, I’m a powerlifter by trade. I was invited to Westside Barbell in 2018 and have been here ever since,” the transplanted Ohioan said. “A buddy of mine that I work out with showed me a video one day of two dwarfs fighting. It was like a bar bet where someone said, ‘You should try that.’ So I said, OK.”

After a few weeks Smith said a representative from Barstool Sports contacted him and said he should be the next one to fight their champion, which was the aforementioned Hornswoggle.

“I was more than happy to do it,” Smith said. “I was excited for the opportunity.”

From then on he has been training with Clark.

“Travis has helped me more than anyone will ever know. From my first fight to my second was like a night-and-day experience,” Smith admitted. “I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for me.”

Both of his fights for three one-minute rounds.

“The first fight I couldn’t believe how out of shape I was,” Smith acknowledged. “I think I kind of underestimated the fact that they were just one-minute rounds. Coming from a powerlifting background we’d do five total lifts in an entire meet, but in boxing you are constantly on the move.

“After that first fight, you can ask Travis, I was dead,” he said. “I was throwing up and my body was in shock. The second fight I was in much better shape due to my extensive cardiovascular work.”

What Does the Future Hold?

Clark said they have a fight lined up for mid-summer in Florida.

“That’s where we’re at right now, but we are staying in shape in case something would come up,” Clark said. “The odds have always been stacked against Jeremy. He’s always been fighting Goliaths, so being able to fight Davids is what he’s been looking for.

“With what he has had to overcome his entire life, his work ethic is unmatched,” Clark continued.

“I’m not doing this for any personal gain,” Smith stressed. “I’m trying to pave a way for more dwarfs to become active in athletics. Hopefully some day this will morph into something like another boxing federation with weight classes for dwarfs.”

Only time will tell.