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.

[Bill Paxtom]

May 9, 1975

Manager - Harry Kabakoff now posted that his fighter Howard 'Kayo' Smith
had a record of 21-1-0 {16 KO's}, which included '18' straight wins.

They had accepted a 'paltry' fight purse of {25% of the Gate Receipts} to fight
Larry Middleton on only 8-Days notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harry Kabakoff >

We only took this bout, because we were promised a bout with Ken Norton if we won.

We only had 8-Days notice for this bout, as we weren't even scheduled for a May 1975 bout.

We asked for a $2000 Fight Purse Guarantee, but they offered us 25% of the Gate
Receipts instead.

Also, Howard hasn't had any good offers in the past 5-Months, so we had to take what
they offered.

Look at what we did to Larry Middleton. Nobody was looking to fight him.
Just look at who he beat;
* Roy Williams
* Joe Bugner
* Danny McAlinden
* Bob Stallings
* Jack O'Halloran

He lost a close Decision to Jerry Quarry. And he got a raw deal' when he drew
with Jimmy Ellis.

He took Oscar Bonavena 12-Rounds, and nearly dropped Oscar 'twice'. And he
fought Ron Lyle 'twice' and gave him a Hell of a fight in their 2nd-Bout.

The only other guy to stop Middleton besides my guy, was Ron Lyle.

Now, we want Ken Norton. Or, the big Argentinian - Pedro Lovell.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Howard 'Kayo' Smith >

I bruised my right-hand in the 1st-Round when I dropped him. I could hardly use it
after that. So I had to set him up for 'one' right-hand punch.

I will probably need a month off to let my hand heal before I get back to training.

After my Manager's Fee, I'll walk out of here with $711.60. I guess I won't be quitting
my regular job as a Fork Lift Operator anytime soon.

[Bill Paxtom]

May 9, 1975

Howard 'Kayo' Smith

A former Staff Sargeant in the United States Army.

"Some people tell me, you have to be a dog to be in this business. But that sort
of talk goes against my grain."

[Bill Paxtom]

February 1, 1976

Howard Smith: World's Forgotten Heavyweight

Howard 'Kayo' Smith is ranked as the WBC #4 Heavyweight, yet nobody knows who
this Los Angeles, California Heavyweight is.

Howard {Age; 29 years old} has an impressive record of 21-1-0 {16 KO's}, and with
'18' straight victories.

Manager - Harry Kabakoff has had an unbelievable amount of difficulty getting bouts
for his World-Ranked Heavyweight.

To help with the bills, Harry has sold portions of Howard's contract to Television Actor
- Mike Connors, and Trumpeteer/Band Leader of 'The Tonight Show' Doc Severinsen.

Howard will now receive a $500 Monthly paycheck to help off-set his bills, while he waits
for a 'big money' fight.

Howard's day job is as a Fork-Lift Operator for the Clorox Corporation in Compton.

Howard gets up at 4:30 AM everyday to do his 6-Mile Roadwork, before heading to
the Gym for a 1-Hour workout session.

Then it's a shower and an 'on-the-run' Breakfast before getting to work at 7:30 AM.

[Bill Paxtom]

February 7, 1976

Howard 'Kayo' Smith

~ I Train Hard Everyday, And Look Forward To Nothing ~

It's quiet for the #4 World-Rated Heavyweight. There are no offers out there, and
my California State Heavyweight Title is worth nothing.

For Ring Work, I have been hired by Ken Norton. The sparring keeps me sharp and
on my toes.

I know that I'm good, because I can stay with Ken in the Ring. I can hit pretty good,
and I've never been hurt real bad. The only thing, is that I bruised my right-hand
pretty bad down there in San Diego {back in December 1975}, and it kept me off
a Fight Card.

I got ranked in the 'Top 10' 2-years ago, and I thought that it would get me some
decent money bouts. Instead, nothing. I'm now ranked as the #4 WBC Heavyweight,
yet I get stepped over all the time.

Look at who Muhammad Ali is defending against. Some guy from Belgium that nobody
has heard of {Jean-Pierre Coopman}. He was ranked #14 last month, and has dropped
'2' spots this month. And he gets a Championship bout, and with a $120,000 Fight Purse.

For me, my top fight purse was $3000, and I had to go to Japan to fight Tony Doyle
to get it.

I wish the Belgian guy well, but he didn't earn that fight because he was good. He
earned it, because he's 'easy'.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ April 8, 1976

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Howard Smith Back In Olympic Ring ~

Howard 'Kayo' Smith ~ 21-1-0 {16 KO's}
vs.
John 'Speedy' Jordan ~ 19-8-3 {10 KO's}

Howard Smith, the #4 WBC-ranked Heavyweight is back in the Ring after an extended
'11-Month' hiatus. His last bout was back on May 8, 1975 - when he 'clobbered'
Larry Middleton by a KO in 5.

John 'Speedy' Jordan {Norfolk, Virginia} has won 5-Straight in the Virginia small-club
fight circuit, and hopes to score an 'upset'.

~ Howard Smith And John Jordan Bout Ends By 'No-Decision' ~

The 10-Round Heavyweight bout between Howard 'Kayo' Smith and John 'Speedy' Jordan
ended by a No Decision in Round 4, as Smith landed an accidental low-blow into Jordan
at 1:44 of Round 4.

Smith {207 lbs.}, the California State Heavyweight Championship, boxed well over the
first 2-Rounds, as he slammed Jordan {196 lbs.} with jolting left-hands and an occasional
'2-Punch' combination.

In Round 3, Smith again controlled the action, and just past the mid-way point in the
session he started working Jordan's body.

But the 31 year-old Norfolk, Virginia Heavyweight hung tough, and made it a fight at
the {2:10 Mark} when he came back with some decent body punches of his own to back
the 29 year-old Smith off.

Both fighters got into a 'heated exchange' at the end of Round 3, as they traded heavy
hooks into each others body.

In Round 4, both fighters met at Center-Ring, and each continued with their body-attack.

But at the {0:40 Mark}, Howard drove Jordan backwards and into the Ropes, and started
to let his body-blows fly into the Virginia Heavyweight.

Smith went after Jordan's body with hard hooks into the mid-section and sides.

Then at the {1:00 Mark}, Smith let a right-hand stray 'too low', and Jordan 'dropped' to the
canvas in pain from the punch.

The Referee determined it was an 'accidental-blow', and permitted John Jordan a
2-Minute 'rest period'.

The Referee - Dick Young asked Jordan if he wanted to continue, and he said >
"Ill give it a try, but I'm hurting down there."

When the action resumed, the Virginia Heavyweight tried to fight on, but it was
obvious that Jordan was still hurting. Howard Smith 'pulled' his punches, and
backed off when Jordan was not fighting back.

The Referee - Dick Young then halted the action, and called the bout over at
{1:44} of Round 4.

Under California State Boxing Rules, the bout is ruled a 'No Decision'.

Howard Smith was ahead on all '3' Scorecards {3-0 / 3-0 / 3-0} at the time the bout
was ended by an 'accidental' low-bow.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ April 10, 1976

Howard 'Kayo' Smith

Howard Smith was back in the Ring on Thursday Night at the Olympic Auditorium
against Virginia Heavyweight - John 'Speedy' Jordan.

Unfortunately, the bout only went 4-Rounds, as Howard accidentally struck his opponent
John 'Speedy' Jordan low, and the bout was halted and ruled a 'No Decision'.

Howard, who is ranked as the #4 WBC Heavyweight was using the bout as a 'tune-up'
to sharpen his skills for a possible 'Television Bout' with Earnie Shavers in May or June 1976.

The 29 year-old Californian had been 'idle' for 11-months {since May 8, 1975} before
Thursday Night's bout.

Howard, who has been a sparring-partner for Top Contender - Ken Norton, is an always
ready fighter, and hopes things turn around in 1976, after a 'near quiet' 1975.

[brocktonblockbust]

Howard 'Kayo' Smith is the kind of boxer that I like. Gentleman with 'class'.

[Bill Paxtom]

Howard 'Kayo' Smith is the kind of boxer that I like. Gentleman with 'class'.

Howard Smith,

A 'soft-spoken' man, who was a good citizen. Despite the 'raw deal' he was getting
from other fighters who avoided him, he trucked on.

Howard never uttered a 'bad word' about Muhammad Ali, even when he was taking on
'freaks' in his 1976 Circus Road Show.

* Jean-Pierre Coopman
* Richard Dunn
* Antonio Inoki