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

[Bill Paxtom]

damn he beat the boy twice

And, Howard Smith flattened {KO 2} Mike Weaver in the Amateurs, in an
All-Service Military {1969} bout between the Army and the Marines.

Mike won '1-Bout' also, by a {Dec 3}.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ November 16, 1972

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Howard 'Kayo' Smith ~ 5-1-0 {4 KO's} ~ 203 lbs. ~ 6' 1/2"
vs.
Dan 'Ronnell' Johnson ~ 10-1-0 {10 KO's} ~ 202 lbs. ~ 6' 1"

This was a 10-Round 'Co-Main Event'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dan 'Ronnell' Johnson was labeled a 'sleeper'. Because he had no 'fan fare',
but he could whack hard.

23 year-old - Dan Johnson {Deland, Florida} was coming off a bout which was up
for 'Fight of the Year' in California.

5-Months earlier {June 15, 1972}, Dan took on 'highly-touted' and unbeaten Argentinian
- Pedro Lovell at the Olympic Auditorium.

In that bout, Dan floored Pedro 'twice' in the 1st-Round and nearly scored a 'shocking'
Knockout.

It was a wild bout that was telecast on KCOP-TV.

But Pedro came back, and 'broke' Dan's jaw in the 3rd-Round, and the bout was
quickly stopped by a TKO 3.
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"The Bout"

Howard fought a smart and tactical fight over the big-swinging Floridian.

Round-after-Round, Howard sent out snappy left-jabs into the face of Johnson, who
was attempting to get in close, to sling in his wide-hooks.

By Round 8, Johnson was arm-weary and near exhausted, as well as receiving a
boxing-lesson from Howard.

In Round 10 {Final Round} > Howard opened up on a 'weary' Johnson, and battered
him into the Ropes. There, Howard unleashed a barrage, and dropped Johnson with a
a '7-Punch' combination to the head.

Referee - Rudy Jordan counted out Dan Johnson at 1:13 of Round 10.

[brocktonblockbust]

where do you get your store house of info? Amazing facts and details. Takes me back in time.

[Bill Paxtom]

where do you get your store house of info? Amazing facts and details. Takes me back in time.

Thanks for the compliment 'Triple B'

My Database is loaded with 'tid-bits'.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ May 5, 1973

Phoenix Union's Montgomery Stadium ~ Phoenix, Arizona

Attendance....... { 1890 }

Main Event ....... Jimmy Ellis vs. Rico Brooks

-----------------------------------------------------------

Semi-Main Event

Howard 'Kayo' Smith - 6-1-0 {5 KO's} ~ 204 lbs.
vs.
Allen 'Evil' Evans ~ 13-6-0 {9 KO's} ~ 199 lbs.

Howard Smith has been 'idle' for 5 1/2 months. But in late-April 1973, he
gets a call to be a sparring-partner for former WBA Heavyweight Champion
- Jimmy Ellis who is training for an upcoming bout in Phoenix.

Howard takes the sparring-partner job, and also gets put on the Fight Card as
a 'Semi-Main Event' 8-Rounder.

Allen Evans, a 27 year-old Milwaukee Heavyweight who has several monikers >
of 'Evil', 'Big Al' and 'The Black Destroyer' is his opponent.

Evans was no easy fighter to handle. In his last bout {March 26, 1973}, he gave
World-Rated {#17} - 'Irish' Pat Duncan fits for 10-Rounds, only to lose a Split-Decision
in Duncan's backyard in Eugene, Oregon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Bout"

Rounds 1 and 2 were 'non-action' sessions, as both fighters pawed and
lightly jabbed.

But in Round 3, Howard came out jabbing faster, and scored fairly easy on
the now even 'less-active' Milwaukee Heavyweight.

By Round 4, Allen Evans realized that he didn't have the skills to box with
Howard, so he turned the bout into a 'comical show', and went to the Ropes
and let Howard hit him.

During the Round, every time that Howard landed a punch, Allen would turn
to the crowd and 'blow kisses' and 'wink' to the females at Ringside.

Then, starting in Round 5, each time that Allen got hit, he would yell to
Howard > "Come on big fellow".

This pattern stayed the course in Rounds 5 and 6.

By Round 7, Howard was pitching a near shut-out, as Allen Evans offered
up little other than a 'shove' or looping right-hand over Howard's left shoulder.

Round 8, was a more of the same.

Howard Smith was awarded the 'one-sided' Unanimous 8-Round Decision.

Scorecards ......... 80-73 / 80-74 / 80-74

[Bill Paxtom]

May 23, 1973

Howard 'Kayo' Smith was now a 'Heavyweight Boxer on the Rise'.

Fight Promoter - Mickey Davies then signed up California State Heavyweight
Champion - 'Giant' Jack O'Halloran to defend his Title on June 8, 1973
in San Diego.

Howard Smith {Age; 26 years, 5 months} and with a record of 7-1-0 {5 KO's}
was excited about the opportunity.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Howard Smith >

"I've finally got a chance to prove myself. This is my opportunity."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ June 3, 1973

Coliseum ~ San Diego, California

Promoter .... Mickey Davies
Attendance... { 2630 }

'California State Heavyweight Championship'

Jack O'Halloran ~ 32-16-2 {16 KO's} ~ 6' 6" ~ 247 lbs. ~ {Age; 30 years, 2 months}
vs.
Howard Smith ~ 7-1-0- {5 KO's} ~ 6' 2 1/2" ~ 202 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 5 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack 'The Giant' O'Halloran is coming into this bout on a good streak,
where he has won 8-of-9 since July 1972.

The California State Heavyweight Champion is the #24 World-ranked
Heavyweight, and has been mentioned as a possible opponent for several
of the Top 10 Heavyweights.

"The Bout"

Howard Smith, giving up 4" in height and 45 lbs. in weight, stays on the
outside during the early Rounds, and O'Halloran presses during the first
4-Rounds.

But Howard changes the flow, and carries the fight to 'The Giant' in Rounds
5, 6 and 7, and out-speeds him with lefts-and-rights to the mid-section.

The action slows in Round 8, as both fighters maul-and-grab.

Howard who has slight-lead after 8-Rounds, tries to step up the pace in
Round 9 over the slow-footed O'Halloran.

But, Howard gets caught by a big right-hand, and suffers a bad {1" cut} on
the right eye-brow.

Jack sensing an opportunity, slams away at Howard, causing the cut to ooze
blood.

Jack keeps up the pressure on Howard in Round 10, and has his best Round
as he scores with clubbing right-hands, but he tires himself out in the process.

But Howard re-groups in Round 11, and presses the fight over the last 2-Rounds
by snapping off several 'left-right combinations to edge out a 12-Round Split-Decision.

Scorecards
* Referee - Frank Rustich ..... 6-5 {Howard Smith}
* Judge - Hal Rickards ......... 5-4 {Jack O'Halloran}
* Judge - Fred Hayes ........... 6-4 {Howard Smith}