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

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ May 20, 1976

Howard Smith, the #4 WBC-Ranked Heavyweight signed to fight Atlanta, Georgia based
Heavyweight - Dan 'Ronnell' Johnson at the Olympic Auditorium next Thursday
on May 27th.

Howard Smith and Dan Johnson have fought before {3 1/2 years earlier}, back on
November 16, 1972 , where Howard won by a Knockout in Round 10 in a rather grueling bout.

If Howard Smith is impressive, he has a date lined up in New York against 'unbeaten'
Johnny Boudreaux, which will be on the undercard of the George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier
rematch.

Howard {Age; 29 years, 4 months} has a record of 21-1-0 {16 KO's}.

Dan Johnson {Age; 26 years, 7 months}, a hard right-hand puncher, has a record of
19-4-0 {17 KO's}, including '7' straight wins, with all coming by Knockout.

[Bill Paxtom]

General Information

Howard 'Kayo' Smith

In 1968,

Howard was the Fifth Army Heavyweight Champion and was stationed in
Fort Carson, Colorado.

The Army Boxing Team visited the Canon City, Colorado Prison to face their
Boxing Team.

Howard {Age; 21} was pitted against the 'vicious punching' Ron Lyle, who was
a 27 year-old hardened Felon.

In their 1st-Bout, Ron Lyle used his strength to out-muscle the boxer Howard Smith
over 3-Rounds, as Lyle was awarded the Decision.

In their rematch, Howard got right on top of Ron, and never let him get off his
big punches. It was a one-sided bout, with Howard stopping Ron in Round 3.

Howard Smith >

"In our 1st-bout, I let Ron dictate the flow of the bout, and he out-muscled me. He
was very strong, but wasn't all that skilled at the time."

"In the rematch, I jumped all over him and kept punching. I really nailed him in
Round 2, and dropped him for a 3-Count. The Prison Inmates were in shock, as
nobody ever did that to Ron before."

"In Round 3, I smothered him with a barrage, because he really didn't know how to
roll with the punches or slide from the incoming right-hands. I had him out on his
feet and hanging over the Top Rope strand. The Referee jumped in and stopped it."

"After the bout, they handed me a big '3-Foot' Trophy for the 'Best Performance' at
the event."

"I told Ron that he was very good and had a hard punch. But he needed to work on
his speed, because he was kind of slow."

"He thanked me, and then told me that nobody ever hit him that hard before, even
with a Baseball Bat."

[brocktonblockbust]

howard got a bum deal becaise ali was fighting ~bums~

[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

[Bill Paxtom]

August 17, 1976

~ George Foreman To Meet Howard Smith ~

Howard Smith, the #4 WBC Heavyweight signed today to meet former World Champion
George Foreman on Friday Night ~ September 17, 1976.

A site has not been determined yet, but will be announced in 7-Days.

Manager - Harry Kabakoff said that his fighter will receive a Fight Purse in the neighborhood
of $70,000 for the Nationally Televised bout, which is to be broadcast on CBS-TV.

George Foreman is said to receive a Fight Purse somewhere between $200,000 and $250,000.

Current Rankings by Ring Magazine

*** Muhammad Ali
#1 . Ken Norton
#2 . George Foreman
#3 . Jimmy Young
#4 . Duane Bobick
#5 . Larry Holmes
#6 . Howard Smith
#7 . Ron Lyle
#8 . Johnny Boudreaux
#9 . Chuck Wepner
#10 Mike Schutte

[Bill Paxtom]

September 1, 1976

~ Harry Kabakoff > 'Nobody Wants To Get In The Ring With My Fighter" ~

Harry Kabakoff, the Manager for Howard 'Kayo' Smith, the #4 Ranked Heavyweight in
the World is upset and mad, as he and his 29 year-old fighter are continuously getting
yanked around.

Harry Kabakoff >

Back on August 17th, Don King signed us up, for Howard to fight George Foreman for
a September 17th bout.

We were promised a $70,000 Fight Purse. Then yesterday, George Foreman pulled out,
saying that he needed another 3-Weeks to get ready. Now we find out, that he really
doesn't want to fight us at all, and is cancelling on us all together.

We just found out that Foreman is preparing to fight Dino Denis down in Florida
and scheduled for October 15th.

Now today, we were just offered a bout with Ron Lyle, set for Saturday ~ September 11th
and in Utica, New York.

But we would have less time to prepare for that bout {only 10-Days}, and our fight purse
would be cut to $40,000 - while Ron Lyle would get $100,000.

Man, we're ranked above Ron Lyle, who's slotted at #8 WBC. I'm not accepting 40%
of what Ron Lyle is getting.

But I was told, that Ron Lyle didn't really want Howard as an opponent anyway, and would
never get in the Ring with him.

They have tossed out a few other 'slots' to us, but I'm not sure if they're real or not. We
have been offered a spot on the undercard of the Duane Bobick - Chuck Wepner {October 2nd}
bout to be held in Utica, New York.

We've been promised $15,000 - but they haven't come up with an opponent yet. We suggested
a rematch with Johnny Boudreaux {who we beat by a Split-Decision on June 15th}. But we
are waiting to hear for a response.

But I seriously doubt that Manager - Paddy Flood wants Boudreaux to fight Howard again.
So I'm not holding my hopes too high.

[Bill Paxtom]

October 1, 1976

~ Jimmy Young and Howard Smith, Set For October 30th ~

Philadelphia's - Jimmy Young, the #3 World-Rated Heavyweight is set to take on
little-known Howard Smith of Los Angeles in a Heavyweight Eliminator bout.

The 29 1/2 year-old Smith has patiently waited for 4-years to be recognized, is
the #4 World-Rated Heavyweight, and has a record of 22-1-0 with {16 KO's},
including '19' straight wins since January 1972.

Jimmy Young will receive a $100,000 Fight Purse, while Howard Smith has
agreed to $60,000 plus expenses.

Other fighters who may appear on the Fight Card;
* Stan Ward
* Larry Holmes
* Johnny Boudreaux