Howard 'Kayo' Smith ~ "Good Fighter - Bad Breaks"

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ May 8, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angles, California

Attendance ........ { 2202 }
Gate Receipts ..... $4300

~ 'Red Hot' Howard Smith Does His Thing, Kayoes Larry Middleton In 5 ~

~ Small Turn-Out For Smith KO ~

Howard 'Kayo' Smith {199 lbs.} overcame a badly bruised right-hand, and KO'd veteran
Larry Middleton @ 2:58 of Round 5.

Smith didn't find it at all difficult to get past Larry Middleton {207 lbs.} and his long reach
during the 1st-Round, as he dropped Middleton with a 'hammering' right-hand to
the jaw.

The 32 year-old Baltimore Heavyweight came in with an advantage of 3" height
and 4" over the 27 year-old California Heavyweight, but he found himself on the
canvas after taking the '1st' real good right-hand punch from Smith at the {2:03 Mark}
as Middleton's left leg went numb on him, causing him to tumble down on his left side.

Middleton was up at the '4-Count', and was shaking his left-leg to get some feeling
back in it.

But, Howard Smith injured his right-hand in the process, and only used his right-hand
sparingly from that point on.

Still, Smith was able to 'stagger' Middleton in Round 2 and again in Round 3
with fast right-hand leads to the jaw, but again failed to follow up.

After taking Round 4 off {to rest his hand}, Smith looked to set up Middleton for
one right-hand punch, as a 'Go-for-Broke' punch.

In Round 5, Smith was able to walk through Middleton's spearing-jabs, and put
heavy-pressure on the Baltimore Heavyweight's body, as he worked in left-hands
to the mid-section.

At the {1:30 Mark}, Smith landed a grazing right-hand to the jaw that sent Middleton
skidding along the right-side Ropes. Smith moved in and resumed with left-hooks
into Middleton's body to bring his hands down.

Middleton was able to survive the next-minute by moving and grabbing.

Then at the {2:44 Mark}, Smith unloaded with 'jolting' left-hook that caught the
Baltimore Heavyweight flush on the chin.

Then Howard Smith stepped forward, and came over the top with a 'vicious' right-hand
to the jaw that dropped Middleton 'like-a-rock'.

The Referee counted out Larry Middleton @ 2:58 of Round 5.