Earnie Shavers vs. Howard Smith ~ 'Championship Qualifier' - Winner Gets Muhammad Ali

[Bill Paxtom]

This bout was broadcast on CBS-TV Sports Spectacular

Howard 'KO' Smith

Was a very good boxer, who had excellent hand-speed and nifty footwork.

Howard stood at {6' 2 1/2"}, and a long reach at {77"}, which complimented
his accuurate left-jab.

And he was solidly built at 205 lbs., but with a 'lean' Cheetah-like frame.

His power-punch was a quick right-cross, that he liked to unload during
the Middle-Rounds of a bout, as he lured his opponent in close.

Howard was the California State Heavyweight Champion, which he won on
June 8, 1973 - but later relinquished the Belt in 1975.

Howard had some quality wins;

* June 8, 1973 ......... W Dec 12 ............. Jack O'Halloran
* November 9, 1973 . W Dec 10 ............. Steve 'Iceman' Carter
* March 13, 1974 ..... KO 6 ..................... 'Irish' Tony Doyle
* August 14, 1974 ... KO 6 ...................... Jack O'Halloran
* May 8, 1975 ......... KO 5 ...................... Larry Middleton
* June 15, 1976 ...... W Split-Decision ...... Johnny Boudreaux
* January 15, 1977 .. W Unan. Dec 10 ..... Henry Clark

But, Howard had 'continous' problems with his right-hand, which he broke
'8' separate times during his career, which kept him idle for spells of;

* {6 Months}
* {8 months}
* {6 months}
* {5 months}
* {5 months}
* {6 months}
* {11 months}
* {7 months}

The continuing 'problems' with the right-hand, kept Howard Smith out of many
'decent' money bouts.

In Howard's 6-Year career {starting on May 8, 1971}, the 'California KO Kid' only
had '26-Bouts'.

[AdamGB]

Fuck off.

[Bill Paxtom]

This bout was broadcast on CBS-TV Sports Spectacular

Howard 'KO' Smith

Was a very good boxer, who had excellent hand-speed and nifty footwork.

Howard had height at a 'shade' under {6' 3"}, and a long reach at {77"}
which complimented his accuurate left-jab.

And he was solidly built at 203 lbs., but with a 'lean' Cheetah-like frame.

His power-punch was a quick right-cross, that he liked to unload during
the Middle-Rounds of a bout, as he lured his opponent in close.

Howard was the California State Heavyweight Champion, which he won on
March 13, 1974 - but later relinquished the Belt in 1975.

Howard had some quality wins;

* June 8, 1973 ......... W Dec 10 ............. Jack O'Halloran
* November 9, 1973 . W Dec 10 ............. Steve 'Iceman' Carter
* March 13, 1974 ..... KO 6 ..................... 'Irish' Tony Doyle
* August 14, 1974 ... KO 6 ...................... Jack O'Halloran
* May 8, 1975 ......... KO 5 ...................... Larry Middleton
* June 15, 1976 ...... W Split-Decision ...... Johnny Boudreaux
* January 15, 1977 .. W Unan. Dec 10 ..... Henry Clark

But, Howard had 'continous' problems with his right-hand, which he broke
'8' separate times during his career, which kept him idle for spells of;

* {6 Months}
* {8 months}
* {6 months}
* {5 months}
* {5 months}
* {6 months}
* {11 months}
* {7 months}

The continuing 'problems' with the right-hand, kept Howard Smith out of many
'decent' money bouts.

In Howard's 6-Year career {starting on May 8, 1971}, the 'California KO Kid' only
had '19-Bouts'.

__________________________________________________ _______________

Howard only had 1-Bout in 10-Months, and that was a recent 10-Round Decision
over Henry Clark on January 15, 1977.

Before that win, he was 'idle' for 7-Months.

[Bill Paxtom]

Howard Smith

'The California KO Kid'

Was managed by Harry Kabakoff from September 1974 thru 1976.

But hooked up with Bob Biron 1976, who also managed Ken Norton.

[brocktonblockbust]

@maxpower @Max Power this is a true ATG, look at his moves, his shoulder movement while throwing combinations. Do yoiu think Wlad could deal with that shoulder movement?

[Bill Paxtom]

Excellent Post Triple 'B'

Earnie was 'primed' and tuned up for this bout at The Aladdin.

Earnie {Age; 31 years, 8 months} was ranked as the #6 Heavyweight,
opened up on the board as a 'slight' {7-5} Betting Favorite here.

Earnie was inked for a $75,000 Fight Purse.

Howard Smith, who was ranked as the #7 Heavyweight signed for a
$50,000 Fight Purse.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnie Shavers >

"Howard is a good boxer, no doubt. I boxed him back in May 1974 in San Jose,
California when I was out there for a bout. He was the only guy who could stand
up to me at the Gym."

"My plan is simple, to pressure him with body punches, and to slow him down.
He's fast in there, and I've got to take away his speed."

[Master]

Why on earth would you not count the last 3 rounds? @Max Power. Those were championship rounds which separated the true greats from the also ran’s.

Remember this was not the best Ali and he still suckered and out hustled a puncher like Shavers.

[Bill Paxtom]

'Shavers and Smith to Trade Bombs at The Aladdin'

Earnie Shavers, who opened up at a {7-5} Betting Favorite, has now
been bumped up to a {2-1} Favorite.

[Max Power]

Why on earth would you not count the last 3 rounds? @Max Power. Those were championship rounds which separated the true greats from the also ran’s.

Remember this was not the best Ali and he still suckered and out hustled a puncher like Shavers.

If a fighter manages to KO an opponent in round 13+ in a nostalgic fight that's fine but when I'm comparing it to a modern boxer, I think it should be dismissed as an "overly-late KO".

In my opinion if the boxer failed to KO his opponent in 12 rounds, in modern times it would be scored as a decision.

Not being able to KO the opponent in 12 rounds is a sign of failure of plan and skills and any KO in round 13+ is most likely a stamina gas related KO (as visibly most are), nobody plans to KO an opponent in such a late round. By then energy and skills and power have degraded.

Also, an overlooked and even more important implication is that for all the talk about modern boxers not being able to fight 15 rounds anymore, fighting only 12 rounds actually PENALISES modern boxers somewhat here because if you made modern boxers fight 15 rounds, the KO ratio's would become even higher for them because there would be 3 extra rounds of opportunity for them to score KO's.