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

[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}