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

[brocktonblockbust]

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

[Bill Paxtom]

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

Can you just imagine saying "Jean-Pierre Coopman" with a straight face.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ May 27, 1976

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Television Broadcast > Channel 13

Howard 'Kayo' Smith ~ 21-1-0 {16 KO's} ~ 203 lbs.
vs.
Dan 'Ronnell' Johnson ~ 19-4-0 {17 KO's} ~ 208 lbs.
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~ World-Ranked Howard Smith Unimpressive In Win Over Dan Johnson ~

Howard Smith was lackluster and unimpressive thru the first 8-Rounds of his bout with
hard-punching Dan Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia.

Smith used an occasional left-jab, and a less frequent right-hand during a dull and
uneventful 8 Rounds. Only a minor flurry in Round 4, and a hard combination in
Round 6 was the most action dished out from the 'highly-regarded' California
Heavyweight.

During Rounds 7 and 8, a disinterested Smith moved back the Ropes, and let the
strong-punching Atlanta Heavyweight hit him with left-hooks and right-hands,
without offering a quality return punch.

But in Round 9, a re-charged Smith came out with a 'flash-bang', and hammered a
game Dan Johnson around the Ring. Smith poured it on, as he 'stunned' Johnson
several times with right-hand crosses.

With only {3 Seconds} left in the Round, Smith unloaded a vicious right-hand to the
head, dropping Johnson to the canvas.

As Referee - Dick Young tolled off the Count, Johnson rose and was 'saved-by-the-bell'.

Coming out for Round 10, a 'still groggy' but game Dan Johnson hustled out to Center-Ring
and tried to make a fight out of it.

Johnson started winging in wide-hooks, as Howard stayed outside and used measuring
left-jabs in an attempt to set up Johnson for a right-hand.

The action was 'even' for the first 50-Seconds. Then Johnson attempted a wide right-hook,
but Howard beat him to the punch and caught Johnson on the chin with a 'hard' right-cross
at the {1:02 Mark}.

Johnson was 'stunned'. Then Howard fired off a fast 'left-right-left', sending Johnson backwards
to the left-side Ropes.

With a 'stunned fighter' in front of him, Howard unleashed a tremendous overhand-right that
landed on Johnson's head, sending him crashing to the canvas.

Referee - Dick Young counted out Dan Johnson at 1:21 of Round 10.

[brocktonblockbust]

everybody ducking Smith for the entire 70s. He coulda blew Jimmy Young and Ken Norton away. for starters.

[Bill Paxtom]

everybody ducking Smith for the entire 70s. He coulda blew Jimmy Young and Ken Norton away. for starters.

Howard 'Kayo' Smith knew that 'styles' make fights.

* Howard would have out-boxed Jimmy Young. The same thing with 'slow-footed' Ron Lyle.

* Ken Norton would have been a more difficult task, but it would have been a close fight.

* Howard would have been 'too' quick for Muhammad Ali in 1976 and 1977.

* The only fighters that Howard was worried about > Earnie Shavers and George Foreman.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Howard Smith >

"With Earnie Shavers, you have to survive the first 3-Rounds. That's easier said than done.
He has so much power, that even his 'misses' hurt."

"George Foreman is the strongest man in Boxing. But he exhausts himself trying to kill you.
You have to box him, and stay away from him. You have to be patient, as the openings are
there. But you cannot make a 'single' mistake with him, or he'll take you out."

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ May 27, 1976

~ Howard Smith Turns Down Offer To Be On 'Muhammad Ali - Antonio Inoki' Card ~

Harry Kabakoff, Manager for #4 WBC Heavyweight Howard Smith has turned down an
offer to be on the fight card in the 'War of the Worlds' Martial Arts bout between
Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki that is to be held in Tokyo, Japan on June 26, 1976.

Harry Kabakoff >

"Bob Arum offered us $20,000 to be on the Fight Card, and for Howard to fight a 'wrestler'
on the undercard."

"We're not into 'gimmicks'. This is an 'Oddball Bout' and serves no purpose, other than
ripping off the Public."

"This thing in Japan will be a 'sham', and can only hurt Boxing. I can't believe that
Muhammad Ali and his Manager - Herbert Muhammad are doing this. Yes, there is
a lot of money to be made, but that doesn't make it right. This thing will be a 'farce'.

[Bill Paxtom]

June 2, 1976

~ Howard Smith and Johnny Boudreaux Set For George Foreman - Joe Frazier Undercard ~

California's - Howard 'Kayo' Smith and Houston's - Johnny 'Johnny Be Good' Boudreaux are
set to battle on Tuesday - June 16th at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

The bout will be on the undercard of the George Foreman - Joe Frazier long awaited rematch.

Smith, a 29 1/2 year-old Heavyweight from Los Angeles is rated as the #4 WBC Heavyweight
and is ranked #7 by Ring Magazine, and has a record of 22-1-0 {17 KO's}.

Harry Kabakoff, Manager for Howard Smith >

"We've been waiting '2' long years for a bout like this, where Howard can show off his skills
on a big stage. Boudreaux is a good fighter, but he's nowhere in Howard's league."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boudreaux {Age; 23 years, 11 months}, a fast-handed boxer from Houston, is a highly-touted
'unbeaten' Heavyweight, and brings in a record of 19-0-1 with {7 KO's}. Boudreaux is ranked as
the #8 WBA Heavyweight and is slotted at #8 by Ring Magazine.

Boudreaux is co-managed by Paddy Flood, who stated that his fighter is the 'Heir Apparent to
the Heavyweight Throne'.

Paddy Flood >

"Johnny has the fastest hands in the Heavyweight Division. He's faster than Ali. After we win
this bout, we'll take on Ron Lyle on the undercard of the Ali - Norton Championship bout in September.
After that, it will the World Championship in early-1977."

Both fighters stand at 6' 2 1/2" and each weigh in at 205 lbs. for their respective fighting weight.